Seven Years, Instant Regret

minimalist, and cold. It was a place I had helped design, but now I felt

" I said, my voice steadier t

ze, looked flustered. She knew who I was. Everyo

ak, another voice cu

in a very important meetin

sed in a sharp, tailored suit, looking every bit the capable, indispensable assistant. She

ait," I said, my e

, her smile not wavering. "But

id. "I'm here to see my husband." I em

lowered her voice, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "Liam told me how emot

painting me as the hysterical, unstable ex-

out is the one who sleeps with

A flash of anger lit her eyes

p," she said, her voice dropping to a hiss. "W

erstand it

us, the architect of my pain standing there telling me to go home

h the onlookers. Chloe stumbled back, her hand flying to her

la

obby. He had come out of his office,

her behind him, shielding her with his body. He

nded, his voice shaking with rage. "Hitting her? I

t ask what she'd said. He just saw me

t broke the last thread of my composure. All my carefully

me once again. I hated the sound of my own voice,

ands outstretched. "Why? I just

d my sleepless nights. What did she

Chloe's, who was now quietly crying into h

ra,

iver of strength. "I deserve to know. A

ething other than anger or irritation in his eyes.

I am now, not the boy I was. She's ambitious, she's brilliant, she chal

, the me from seven years ago. The me before I had poure

red, the words catching in my throat

e old Liam. His jaw tightened, and a look of deep conflict crossed his face. He reme

g, the tiny crac

oe saw

hought... I thought what we had was special. But if you still have feelings for

-sacrifice. It was designed to pull him back, to make him recommit,

it w

f softness vanished, replaced by a renewed, fierce

eyes locked on hers. "Don't say tha

bly, as he cho

t me over Liam's shoulder, a single, triumphant tear rolling down her che

red

and dead. All the emotion was gone, burned away, leavi