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er hand ached from how tightly she held it, but she needed the physical pain to ground her. The grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria was suffocating. The air was thick with th
red tuxedos and designer gowns, searching for Avery. A waiter carrying a heavy silver tray of hors d'oeuvres bumped hard into her shoulder. Chandler stumble
Osborn stepped inside. He wore a custom charcoal suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly. The moment he entere
oze to the carpet. Pinned to Avery's side was Corinne Vance, his stunningly beauti
ry did not pull away. Instead, he tilted his head closer to hers. The corner of his mouth li
golden couple of Wall Street." "They are perfect together." The words felt like physical blows to her ribs. She could not breathe. She turned away fr
mind. Her hands shook violently as she pulled her phone from her clutch. She opened her messages and typed a text
ound of heavy, deliberate footsteps. Chandler looked up. Avery sto
n. She reached out, her fingers brushing the cuff of his suit jacket, desperate for some kind of conn
you here, Chandler?" His voice was flat, laced with heavy impatience. "I
t belong?" Her voice cracked, rising in volume. "I am your wife, Avery! You h
g down at her with absolute disdain. "I am closing the biggest merger in Osborn history. That
e pointed a shaking finger toward the ballroom doors. "You and Corinne looked very cozy out there. You wer
tep forward, invading her space, forcing her to tilt her head back. "Keep your voice down," he hissed, h
ed the remaining breath from her lungs. She stared at the man she had loved for seven years, the man she thought had saved her life. He looked at her
"I am done," she said, her voice dropping to a dead, hollow whisper. "I am so sic
s lips. "Done? Please. You have nothing without the Osborn name. You are a bastard child y
of being Joseph Gentry's illegitimate daughter was a weight she carried every day.
facade, a flicker of raw, unexplainable panic danced in his gray eyes. He held her there for a fraction of a second too
Chandler, we should just get a divorce
She searched his face, looking for a twitch of his jaw, a flicker in his eyes-any sign that he was
ible anger. She clenched her jaw so hard her teeth ached. She did not cry. She did n
ted her to break down and apologize. His pride, however, refused to let him backpedal. He
corner, her emerald dress catching the dim light. "Avery?" she called out, h
ce softening into that same gentle expression Chandler had seen ear
slapped a hand over her mouth, pushed open the heavy wooden door of the women's restroom, and rushed to the ne
looked up at the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot, her makeup slightl
ghly, and pulled out her phone. Her fingers
sleepy voic
hard and steady. "I need you to
d instantly awake. "Chandler? It's ten at night. Are
ning. "I want it done. Standard terms. I want nothing from him
he back of her neck, fumbling with the clasp of the heavy diamond necklace Avery had given her for th
dropped the necklace into t
straight out the front doors of the Waldorf Astoria. The crisp, cold autumn wind of Manhat
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