ena received a call

e house thi

g or explanation, ju

clock before asking,

ed to

ut w

marr

moment before answerin

all e

is conversation would eventually happen. The Laurent family cared deeply about its reputation

lena had helped ma

dered how long

-

with Adrian. She had spent countless afternoons there since their weddi

ting room, Adrian's pare

om, dressed in a cream-colored suit, while her h

a," h

y before taking the empt

folded her ha

ere looking through t

told

replied. "We heard abo

odded.

you look

understand th

years," he pointed out. "Why ar

t need to unders

ession t

ere a

s gaze. "Do

"Elena, we're not trying to

ut w

marr

said n

ward slightly. "Adrian

te

miled at the c

the beginning, but there w

s bu

defen

t defend

-law studied

ry patient with Adrian

. They wanted reassurance. They wanted to hear that everything was fine and tha

them what

tend to cau

law relaxed sl

have a q

t is

ns if I wan

m fell

ed immediately, while her husba

le

d a que

you want

say I wa

why

e understandin

w stared at her

eason to worry

rha

e softened. "Is Adr

looked

ion, and for the first time, she w

n't k

don't

ok her he

echnical

kn

no intention

w stood, his exp

ill not tolera

at him. "Ne

her answer ma

d Adrian walked into the room. His eyes imm

she doi

owned. "She i

now

should remember ho

comment and looke

ou tel

them

u want a

remained composed.

n't what

heard in

w tigh

in before the argum

lts. If you have problem

d at Ele

is important

urned tow

to yo

said

se from

houl

d for her hand befo

make any decisions

ked at he

decisions wh

, she lef

unable to shake the feeling that there had been so

-

ttled into her car but didn't

one vi

mber had sent

ed to

ed at th

message

bout A

number, but she di

moment,

is t

came almost

knows what

brows lifte

he message, but curiosit

tel

the screen, disappear

other messa

tomorrow

ered it befo

er

tion a

afé on the other

orr

o'cl

r phone and s

t day, she felt someth

r or je

curio

knew something about A

s inter

-

's office while the older man looked

ed us today,"

remained cold. "She

nd

underst

her loo

u haven't given her

She has everythin

sn't eve

to some

. "You're beginning to so

remaine

to it," his father continued. "You didn't have

respec

ave him a hu

ve

expressio

into your life while stil

made Adr

gaze remained

hink we'r

said

mes a public scandal,"

hand

saying that

I'll han

eaned back i

hand

-

n returned home ear

rary with several documen

re you

adi

n see

why

o the room and noticed th

the marriag

es

l looking th

n't fin

hy

rned ano

re things I need

tched her

ve ch

look

what

o care what

was

id

es

he

mouth but couldn

een them seemed

her attention t

stepped

y thinking abo

at him for se

quietly, "Would

't answer i

seemed genuin

a wa

said nothing,

ought

the documen

ed. "What do

I have m

lked p

le

the doorway a

ha

r, but the words se

at had been bothering him since t

still

stared

she had spent years learning how to give

rved into a

ready know the

e walke

e in the library, st

sn't sure whether Elena h

swere