d, Ryland stepped away and an

ly formed. He reached for his jacket from the vanity

rrupted them. "Something urgent came up. Get some rest, and don't wait for me. I'll have someone b

for even a secon

new. Over the past three years, Corinne

nce what the situation was. Whether they had just been intimate or she had be

ache settled deep

their marriage coming to an end, she refused to stay silent

to someone else? Then don't forget to use protec

d around, a faint trace of resigned tolerance softening his

troyed because of him. That burden was his responsibility. He had sworn to keep that secret buried forever and t

bout him from the very beginning. She wo

ss was on the verge of collapse and needed the Becker family's support to survive. She had never given him any

sica's return. He dismissed it as nothing more than irritation

was already closed. Not long after, the so

brief moment, then vanished as the car sped off, leaving

hance to hold them back. She clenched her j

ver lasting long. When Corinne woke, t

e reached for her phone and chec

he screen, a notificat

st crossed paths. I'm so grateful

came from

wo-thirty in the morning. Several carefully edited night p

st lean, and the custom shirt he wore had been something s

th, Corinne tosse

t love, then why had he shown up last nigh

damn ba

bed, headed to the bathroo

nd, she kept cursing Ry

a television station. That day, she was scheduled to visit the

ng down to look for matching shoes when a hand suddenly reac

attractive. He had already changed, and the fresh scent of soap lin

ck strap resting on her shoulder between his teeth, then

ile he smiled with quiet satisfaction, li

your charm, your grace, or that d

g both meant nothing to him, Corinne finally lost control. She inhaled sh

slap without moving, and even Corinne paused, mo