Callum as he loomed over Oliv

n utter shock at the man who had bee

ven the slightest flicke

eezing wind that had bitten into her skin duri

, her voice trembling, "th

mirk tugged at the c

, a brief inconvenience at the courthouse that cou

he suspected her of harboring

up holdings, aren't you? I clearly didn't give you enough credit for you

ramed photo on the wall careenin

directly over her smiling face, splintering the image o

eir marriage-a fragile structure she had spent ye

blood to keep from screaming. Tears soaked into the very sheets wh

marriage was born from a singular, arrogant conviction. H

ident born of her own impulsiveness. Consumed by a crushing weight of g

er, becoming her solitary source of warmth in

had clung to him as if h

, devoting her entire existence to anti

their marriage was nothing more than a concession he had

and the raw, unbridled passion he displayed-had deluded her into bel

o swallow: the truth w

ortress. He had spent their entire marriage keeping her hidden,

he flicked a lighter, watching the flame consume the m

used to spend her remaining time a

final months pining for a man whose

s of the report lay a we

stitute" were still visible

y-the highest scientific ho

g the rank of professor and becoming a rising

or a wedding ring, walking away from

of the institute, choosing her husband over th

lowly, firmly, around the

er identity and pour every ounce of her strength i

life, she was going to exi

austion of her decision finally took their tol

absent for the r

ime from her phone shatt

e courthouse," Callum stated, his voice a deep,

o be rid of her

finally subsided into a cold numbness by

g. "Stop testing me. Without my signature, non

, he cut

ttering chandelier and let

at her life with Callum would dev

is was the clar

her time came, his name would no

up, and began pack

mmons. The days of dropping everything for him-regardl

perwork, finally pulling up to the courthouse in

the curb; it was obvious he had

is schedule, and she had spent years arriving early to every

was willing to wait now was to ensure he could

car and gave the

ustere features. He looked every bit the stoic execut

d his brow. "What was the hold-up? Dragging t

lder shut and fin

ce clouded over, and the air around him

ailored pinstripe suit. The warm, accommodating woman he remembered had v

of emotion. "What's with th

rbored a dislike for

're here to get a divorce. My wardrobe

she had willingly retreated into the role of a housewife, kn

had suppressed her own fire and molded he

had all that effort

perfection could ever compete with the v

allum's gaze hardened as he gave

ng, unnatural paleness beneath her skin-a si

brows together

months. Her frailty was so apparent now that he could