ice drifted toward them. "What

utched in her hand. Her eyes were wide with a flicker of

aware of just how much Arabella's world revolved around her family. If she'd actually heard a word of their

s he reached out to take her bag. "It's no

ilored charcoal suit perfectly acc

ar valuation, Brenton had become the golden boy of th

winner; a little bit of kindness from hi

ing, but even as Brenton touched her

Arabella wanted. She took a mental breath, forcing her

e through and didn't want to interrupt your mee

f tension vanished f

e. If you absolutely have to visit, make an appointment like everyone else. You're wasting Br

nley, the visit would have been celebrated, and e

ded and said, "You'

relentlessly or done something desperate to prove she was B

feel strangely dismissed. He figured it was just her usual

sited in ages. Come back home for dinner tomorrow

spoke up. "I'll make

ng look at Arabella, Archi

tely reached out to pull her into his arms. "What's

inst his chest, her eyes locked on the bag in his hand. It contained the results of her

nd Brenton's smile faded as he caught on

ke concern right off his face. But she knew a scene like that wouldn't actually fix anything

attack that had nearly destroyed her years ago. She was going

't measure up to Brinley?"

ting at her. He gave her forehead a playful tap. "Yo

s. The first way to take it was that she simply fell short of Brinley in e

ow, she knew better. Brenton had meant the first. She didn't expect him

ffice door swung open with a hard knock, and

slip away from Brenton's embrace

able in front of Arabella and ca

tis," Sallie cooed, b

p, and as he did, Sallie's

t?" Arabella a

le tighter around the cup. He looked over to find

ne for pregnancy, so coffee isn't recommended. Why are

nded, his tone icy. His stern gaze

er lips together. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Curti

nd got out of the room

her line of sight and blocked the view entirely. She laughed lightly. "Can't eve

something was off about her demeanor, but looking at her

lainly in his eyes. "Jealous, huh? She's just a college student I'm sponsoring, here for a

forgotten that she had worked tirelessly by his sid

es was nothing more than a tiny

ed through every hardship until she finally earned th

and she recalled exactly how Brenton had reacted. "If you want to do this job well, you

renton's harsh attitude was a form of discipli

tly capable of being compassionate; he simp

..

a felt her strength vanish, and she c

head and hid her face

isappeared, replaced by a deep sen

mn wind brought chilling raindrop

mud by passing cars, she felt that her love and

y grew still as she regaine

ion, Arabella took out her phone and dial

d picked up immediately, Arabella f

ice that sounded both familiar and s

for bothering you at this hour. I wanted to know if I

e turning red as a wave of u

o Alverton University, a world-famous academy, where every

oidance using multi-sensor fusion. Her algorithms basically made dro

re monitoring that was so advanced for its

master's degree and PhD, and her professor even took her on as his l

r's star pupil. She didn't stop there; she teamed up with some college friends to st

ked away from her dreams, her studies, and her bright career, failin

he flew all the way from Trouport just to ask her to join his lab fo

the sacrifices she'd made for Brenton. Not a little, but deep

e other end of the line. "Of course! As I said, as long as you want to come back, the door is al

of warmth. "But is th

me, the second he sees you, he won't be mad anymore. And if he

every day if that's what it takes! I might need about a m

you need. I'll be h

you.

est had loosened, just a little. One month. That was all she needed. Enough time to end the marriage

the first time in a long whil

n, and through it, Arabella could see a young woman perched on a man's lap, the two of them