The billionaire's disabled wife

and Elliot dated years after their supposed fallout in college, ones where the tone oscillated between fury and something dangerously close to yearning. There were ph

here was t

isclosure and Severance Agreement. Ethan Lane's signature was scrawled at the bottom alongside Elliot's. I

is obsession with control, with curating a life that fit the image he wanted the world to see? Or was there more to the

eaped into her throat as she scrambled to put the papers back in the folder.

arp, and she could hear th

from the desk, her puls

d changed out of his usual tailored suit into a simple black sweater and je

in my study?" he a

es. "Looking for a pen. I wanted to

ght call her bluff. But then he nodded, his expression relaxing s

cing a tight sm

ould sense the tension humming beneath her calm facade. But t

an last night," he said,

on the arms of her chair

iquid in his glass. "That's what he's good a

Why do you hat

"You don't know him like I do. He's ma

th caught. "D

w tightening. "It doesn't

her voice softening. "You

her, his expression icy.

e. The contract. You didn't just walk away fro

t, she thought he might throw it. But then he exhale

sounded almost like pain. "Ethan... he had a way of getting under my skin. Of

ened. "So you chose

seen the way you fight to maintain your independence, Sophia. The way you

ecause I have to. You? You destroy people

e couldn't quite name-guilt, maybe

than," he said after a long

g with frustration. "Maybe I should b

he turned away, signaling

in her mind, but they only raised more questions. What had Ethan done to make Elliot view him as su

lery's website, under the guise of wanting to purchase one of his paintings. It was a flimsy ex

ile as disarming as ever. "Mrs. Thorne," he said,

et, the air filled with the faint scent of paint and varn

he saw something raw and unguarded in his e

away from prying eyes. As they sat down, Ethan leaned forward

steady. "Because Elliot won't tell me

once," he said finally. "Or at least, I thought we were. But Elliot has always been his own worst

tightened. "He p

it was the only way to save myself from him. But the truth is, I've ne

hadowed by a deeper, sharper pain. Elliot had built their marriage

e whispered, her v

hing only you can decide. But whatever you choose, don't

yet, but one thing was clear: her marriage to Elliot was at a