t. Without risking a second look at the man lounging on the couch, sh

did she press weakly against the closed

urned to dust, and she no longer

blame at all. Love could n

ened her wardrobe in silence and bega

she had poured all her time into their home, neglecting her appearance. Shopping meant grab

se, yet every trace of her life co

over the bedroom that had been hers for three years. A flicker

slipped the wedding band from he

d, offering up the r

hing on the pale imprint left behind by the

the ring would fit, and not once

go now sparked a feeling in L

e to the suitcase and a crease formed between h

ned at him, a spark of hope flic

It'll take about a month for the divorce to go through. There's ti

eft her forcing

moment's pause, her voice steady and unyielding. "There'

ould be no false

, hesitating before turning his

to check

o when Lucas' voice cut throug

onths. She won't handle this kind of news well

atalie's thoughts drifted to Martha

re one who showed her kindness, even scolding

ention of letting the news reach he

t say a

pected her to turn Martha's affection into a wea

r face, dark and unreadable, as if he were

etending we're still m

ie gave a quick nod. "I'm just

e thought of keeping her son. Lucas might refuse her custody, b

nd tapped softly on the door. "Cole, a

ng he'd already drifted off. But then a brigh

y tomorrow! I want to get you a

slipped through the crack, an

ere along the way, things had changed, and now he

loosened, as if she were forcing herself

lk to you about som

hut in a heartbeat, and

ow it's rude to ba

s voice, leaving no room f

her open, sharp and merciless. She falt

really need to ask you somethin

ven finish, his voice full of irritati

the spot, thrown by the

y and get in the way. I feel embarrassed just tellin

opened her mouth to respond, but he was already

es flickering back and forth, and Natal

her son before slipping

ather her things, book a ride, and head

til she disappeared, a strange irritation gnawing

n a whim two years before, a place she once meant for cooling

had no strength left to think. She was

de straight to Thorpe Group. She was d

company only to be close to Luc

y resignation today?" Natalie aske

He hesitated before replying, "Let me double-c

ompany who knew her marriage to Lucas, Na

e asked, "Is it really n

s face. "It was Mr. Thorpe who sig

s, Natalie nodded in understand

quick run for coffee, but the ding of t

tailored suit, but his stern expression softened when he faced the

breath caught. She hadn't ex