The Spy Who Left

Year

r drifts down the marble hal

brass doorknob that I've turned a thousand times before. But this t

, Aria. Jus

e one Leon and I picked out during our second month of marr

oak door. "You should just tell her, L

catches in

him running his hands through his dark hair the way he does when h

e word hits m

"A pretty little socialite who got lucky marrying above h

to calm the wild beating of my heart. I

rning, but it's gentle. Protective

because Victoria insisted you needed a wife for appea

that follows

f this. But my hand moves of its own accord, turning t

trailing across his shoulders. She's beautiful in that sharp, predatory way that makes other women feel small. Her blonde ha

pull away f

down to whisper in his ear. "Prague. Monaco. Anywh

regnant,

hit me lik

kno

im for weeks, practicing the words in front of my b

w," Elena says, her voice hardening

finally leaning back in his chair. "Ar

a burden rather than a gift, m

harp. "Love. How quaint.

She sees what sh

e wants

s seemed to coincide with Elena's mysterious absences from their shared projects. All the times I

imagining

ecting the life growing inside me. A life th

ngers now tracing patterns on Leon's chest. "Suburban house, dinner

retches between t

e my

fices of Morrison, Chen & Associates, staring at th

as I grip the

ou could go home, pretend no

y like it's a business problem to be solved? A man

zzes. A tex

gain tonight.

it was cruel irony. But Leon isn't cruel. He's ju

er and fresh flowers. Everything is designed to

voice is gentle, professional. "

id-thirties, with kind eyes behind wire-rimmed gla

lp you with to

. Once I say them out loud,

t a di

or judgment. Just reaches for

the circumstances lea

. "With his business partner. I overheard them discussing...

aper. "I'm sorry you're going through

ls like a lifetime

child

my stomach. "I'm pr

, his expression softening

knows, and he... he discussed it with

t, I have to ask, are you sure this is wh

out sharper than I

ng the words out loud, I feel so

li

assets, property, any

property, custody arrangements, and spousal suppor

t anything,"

n blinks. "

don't want to fight over assets." I lean forwar

all due respect,

be entitled to an

h a finality that

elines. By the time I walk back to my car, the sun is settin

ssed calls from Leon

Your car isn'

me back.

es for a long moment,

on's Mercedes isn't in the garage, which

eed time

list furniture he chose. The stark white walls I always found cold but never

ome so small i

is Vuitton set Leon bought me for our honeymoon, but the old canvas bag I broug

cked in my jewelry box. The dog-eared copy of Pride and Prejudice I've read a hundred times

g fits in

tire life bec

hared, and write a letter. Not an explan

e

ers will have been filed. I know a

gry. I'm j

. I don't want anything except sole custody of

nd what you'r

r

s pillow and take one la

uced to a single suitcase

zes again. L

e, I tur

Four Seasons gestures to the nearly empty bo

her glass with a laugh that's too loud and too

staurant with satisfaction. "I still can't believe she actuall

. "The girl always was too so

he was a waitress when Leon met her. A wai

and I feel sick listening to

comes crawling back?" Another voice joins th

e at most. She has no money, no skill

?" Amanda's eyes light

ls out her phone. "I'll text everyone. Tw

days," Victoria

," Amanda

"She's stubborn enough to

ating my predicted downfal

y they

't know. Non

about the woman I was before I became Leon's wife. They don't know that pl

k I'm run

'm finally free to

n the table, slipping out of the

ve their be

I'll be back, br

this city, they'll learn the most

man who's been underesti

is just b