His Pride Shattered, My Heart Released

e Ste

d, shattering the fragile glas

street, her hands shaking so violently she could barely flag down a taxi. She gave the

chaotic loop of the last few months. Every touch, every kiss, every rare moment of domestic peace-it all felt hollow n

le of the night, she heard the soft chime of the privat

s exhausted features. He smelled of expensive whiskey and the crisp night air. H

fted closer. She reached out, wrapping her arms around his waist,

y pried her hands away. He shifted his body, putt

explanation. "Tonight was a strictly business banquet. I didn't tell you because I thou

ed out, fighting the te

ed on the nightstand. There, resting under the

Sloane had

ghtly to her chest. She didn't dare ask about the watch. She didn't da

y. I'm going to sleep," she

hin minutes, the deep, even cadenc

in the pillow as silent tears finally spilled over, soaking the

. She instinctively reached out, but the space be

as. When she went downstairs to the kitchen, she found a pl

memories of their time together felt like a crue

she was gathering the trash to throw away, the sharp buzz o

ey, and he never rang the b

the door and

e fifties. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, her posture impeccable, and her sharp

going blank. She had lived here for mont