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nk about gettin
pen, the sound echoing like a gun
gers nervously rubbing the lace cuff of her wedding dress. The mat
wave of freezing air with him. His dark e
smile stretched across her face, making h
ghtly. "It's me. Do you remember what we tal
dging her outstretched hand
ile on her face stiffened. Her stomach d
she picked up a glass of warm water. She held it out to him,
e tired," s
eath. He swatted his hand
s and shattered against the hardwood floor. The shar
he stared at the jagged pieces on the floor, her
e, loosening it with rough, jerky movements. His jaw clen
d. He grabbed the edge of the si
wn onto the floor, landing in the spilled water. He to
rd she tasted copper. The tears she had
d picked up his black briefcase. He snapped it
coffee table. The heavy thu
d. His voice was flat, mech
the top document. The bold black letters at the top re
eyes scanned the harsh clauses. Relinquishment of all rights to the Wilki
est tight. It felt like some
her voice cracking. "I didn't come he
laugh. He stepped closer, his ta
. "You spun a pathetic little story about a rescue to get your hands
ysical slap. A hot tear spilled over he
en from his inner jacket pocket and held it out to h
ds firmly at her sides, refusing to take t
He smelled like expensiv
he said softly, "I will pull every cent of funding from your grandf
he blood drained from her fac
his life's work. It was the o
s. She flipped to the signature lines and pressed the nib in
documents out from under her hands. He checked the signatur
and pointed a long finge
nded. "The guest ro
urned in her chest like acid. She squeezed her eyes shut fo
rom her hair. She threw it onto the sofa, th
f her battered suitcase. She dragged it toward the doo
oorway, she stopped. S
t this," she said, her
her direction as he unbuttoned his shi
ny door slammed shut behind her, the click of the lock
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