et

aiting area was huge, high-defi

the moment

strobe-light flash of a hundred cameras. Kayla's hands fl

effects cutting into my fingers, watching my husband promise fo

an

idn't come

urn

m the broadcast, though the bow tie was undone, hanging loose around his neck. He looke

wasn'

ice grip, her other hand fanning her face as if the st

ice felt distant, like I was sp

looked torn, that familiar crease appearing between his eyebrows-the look he cultivated

unning a hand through his h

e?" I asked,

plea. "You know the pressure I'm under. The board... my parent

if to touch my shoulder, but

f him like slick oil. "You know I do. But I have a

m, feeling my

talk about responsibility while wearing a tux you b

round to see if anyone was watching. "I'

th a fountain pen?

g. "You're being irrational. I am

other?" I as

d, derail

man you promised to take care of when I signed

e in his expensive skin. "I... I ha

ing cold in my chest. "You forgot she exist

past him

-sharp, predatory, and amused. When our g

d stepped smoothly between us,

with sickeningly sweet sympathy. "Please don

silver thing that cost more than

d something, the pen scratching loudly in the quiet room, and ripped

onal account. Consider it a severance pack

t the piec

llion d

y a new life. It could pay for th

saw was the price tag s

oftly, eager for a resolut

anted to buy his conscience c

ut and took

riumphant. "See? I told

check up

berately, I tore i

sharp, like a

ain. An

utter to the floor

aid, my voice ste

le vanished

her chest. She swayed, her knee

voice pitching up into a wail

st him, burying her

ed, muffled against the silk

r in a split second. It was easier for him to be angry at me than to loo

spat. "Look what you did

n who had carried him for five years. He onl

e," he said coldly.

rms. She buried her face in hi

, she pe

econd, over

inked

, his back turned to me, his steps urgent and caring-t

n," I ca

but he didn'

etly, the words hanging in the ste

dn't

s prize, leaving his conscience behind in the