and a raw, simmering anger surfaced-the look o

you're that desperate for a divorce, fine-I'll give it to you. But listen carefully, Ashley... don

e doorway and snapped at his assistant

the assistant flinched, then r

ung open again, and two freshly print

d slapped them onto the bedside t

l scrap of mercy. "Ashley, for the sake of the three years of marriage we shared, I'll

from Ashley's lips. Of all the wrongs she ha

the pen, and bent over the papers. Her signature flowed across

of doubt slo

. It's

, she flung the p

spoke with undisguised impa

er face threw Nicolas c

ers clamped down so hard

asn't

ne terribly, unm

would be uneasy wheneve

him, it had always brimmed wi

him now met his gaze as if he

ng lower t

he was garbage she coul

nal, sparked an odd irritation in his chest, alon

t time, Nico

een silently watching it all unfold, and

let Nicolas

tears clung to it. "This is all because of me. If I hadn't

Ashley, please don't blame Nicolas for this. I'll leave. I'l

ht, her movements shaky, only to sway dangerou

of hesitation in Nicolas. Concern surged through

ng body, then turned his gaze back to Ashley-cold

look at yourself. A cruel woman like you

abbed the pen and scrawled his name across t

d tossed it at her, his tone steady

When it finally hits you, don't expect mercy-even if you come

icolas had been certain he understoo

In his mind, once she left, she would be utterly alone. Soon enough, he

ed, Mr. Reed." Slipping the divorce papers out of sight, Ashley

n anymore. You're welcome to take him. I sincerely hope the two of you stay togethe

glance, Ashley strode out of the roo

nd unhurried, as if the suffocating burden she had carri

mpty doorway where she had vanished, an unfamiliar hollowness

it meant nothing, that the unease was merely the result

sted the harshness of life outside, she would co

nter sunlight spill over her skin, its gentle warmth seepin

, she keyed in a number she ha

d a man's usually composed voice brok

s... is that

r, sunlit sky above her. Moisture clung to her las

ced. Come pick me u