Evans

e plush carpet as I approached his office, the sound of Kaitlyn' s theatrical sobs growing lou

thick with fake tears. "Everyone's looking at me like I

s voice a low, comforting rumble. "Don't listen to th

the same gentle touch he'd used on me countless times after a particularly brutal board meeting, or

a client? And how many times had he just listened, nodded, and offered hollow platitudes? Not once had he truly defended

d. Never. Not about my feelings, not about my struggles, not about my pain. I

y loud in the suddenly silent room. Hudson's arm, which had clearly been around Kaitlyn's shoulders,

on crossing his handsome features. "Alex. Wha

ad interrupted his

tammered, my voice barely a whispe

he snapped, his eyes flashing. "Because frankly, Alex, your jealousy is becoming unp

ng me, accusing me of something I wasn't even feeling anymore

started, but

d frankly, your attitude isn't helping. I think you

ll the times I had rationalized his behavior, convincing myself he was just

ed my mouth. I had no fight left. No w

l humiliation. The last shred of my dignity would be stripped away here, in this office, in front of

from a distance. "Kaitlyn," I began, my voice flat, devoid of all emoti

of glass, threatening to shatter. I held the bow, waiting for some acknowledgme

hand, firm and unyielding, pressed against the small of my back,

ar, his breath hot against my skin. "Show

a broken bottle. Hudson had been standing right in front of me. I' d instinctively shoved him out of the way, taking the brunt of the impact against a heavy marble table

Or perhaps, he n

engeance, fire spreading through my

weet, pulled me back. She took a step closer, her eyes glitteri

uptly released me. I swayed, clutching my side, my vision swimming. His eyes met m

urned and walked out of the office. Each step was an agony, physical and e

, but silent. They weren't for Hudson. They were for the naive, hopeful woman I had been, the

truly

ry Ashley." I printed the document, walked over to his c