The Price of His Betrayal

I saw Julian Croft after six ye

nworthy of the life I had

e Oregon Weavers Collective, a respected artist, and a wife. My husband, Kael, was somewhere in the crowd, closing a deal that wo

I saw

he same. The same tailored suit, the same air of old-money confidenc

t immediately, a low hum t

The one from the

sappeared. She lo

with him. It was a

hame. I took a steadying breath, the scent of expensive perfum

gant smile spread across his face. He set his drink down and walked toward me, parting the

eping over my dress, a design of my own creati

l. "Look what the cat dragged in. I always

vet box. He opened it. Inside was a vintage Cartier ri

but above the polished fl

eet, the diamond winking u

enough for everyone nearby to hear. "

on his arm. "Julia

ting. He was so sure of himself, so certain tha

e ring, then back u

a calm, ge

lear and steady. "We were done six years ag

and profound. It was more satisfyi