e mediation r
ed by more than just wood and varnish. Clayton sat in an observer's chair b
red, his voice filled with disbelief, "the opposing party has waived all claims to mar
as unh
e table at Chloe, searching her face
hing but ser
desperate to be with that other man that she would walk aw
he pen without a flicker of hesitation. Her signature-Chl
center of the table. Her movement was graceful, as
ine and gestured wit
He had expected tears, arguments, a last-ditch
was watching him, a cool, victorious
and wounded, sur
ngry motion, he scrawled his name-Augu
hard the nib of the
as d
f marriage, o
hat concludes the proceedings. As of this m
if a mountain had been lifted from her chest. She turned to Clayton and her la
s a celebration. A celebrat
ack and stood, needin
e walked around the table
ression cold, waiting for
mply held out h
ned, co
voice calm and even. "I don't believe I h
f keys into his hand. The met
walked away, without
walk down the hallway, side-by-side with Clayton, the anger and j
. It was loss. A real, tangibl
een so certain would never leave
the signed agreement still on the ta
Mont
tgo
In three years, he had only ever called her Chloe. He
edge of his memory, but his mind, clo
/1/122184/coverbig.jpg?v=20260630170031&imageMogr2/format/webp)