/1/125210/coverbig.jpg?v=20260810175225)
chicken and wild rice soup. It was a recipe she had spent months perfecting, knowing it was one of the few things her husband, Garrett Swanson, actually enjoyed
glanced at the screen. It was a local number she didn't recognize. Wiping her ha
el
"This is Chloe from Timeless Moments Wedding Planning. I just have a few f
p one last time before answering, her tone pleasant but firm. "I am indeed Mrs. Swanson, but my husband and I have
g number?" The planner sounded genuinely flustered. "Let me check my file... I am so sorry. Jus
at
arble countertop and clattering loudly onto the hardwood floor. A sharp, high-pit
r asked, her voice pitching higher in pa
felt as though it had been packed with dry co
ong number entirely!" The planner offered a hast
eafening. Jessie stood frozen, her heart hammering viole
t Stanford, and now, she was a junior researcher at his company, Helios Dynamics. Over the years, Jessie had heard Garrett mention Britt
lanner had specifically linked Garrett's name with Brittnie's, and call
velvet sofa, the only illumination coming from the muted glow of the city lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. She was waiting
the hallway chimed eleven, her phone vibrated
even form a syllable, Garrett's deep, command
e. Can you please just be reasonable f
s chest. She didn't know exactly when it had happened, but somewhere along the line
sked, her voice trembling slightly desp
uthoritative. "I have to travel out of state for a crucial confere
ing to ask if he wanted her to pack a bag and
through the receiver. It was a woman's voice, pitched in a so
the wedding planner is
ely ignoring the background noise. "I'm going to be swamped for t
ic
hun
erfectly. The wedding planner. A profound, bone-chilling coldness seeped out f
ie was already sitting in the passenger seat of a sleek, rented town
. She stared blankly out the window as the lush vineyards blurred past. After a night of agonizing overthink
nner back, posing as a distant relative needing directions to the venue. The planner, uns
jarring her from her dark thoughts. She looked at the ca
id, her voice
iend from her past life in academia. "You know exactly why I'm calling, so I won't beat around the bush. The research institute desperately need
own life. "Liam, the institute has you and Professor Finch holding th
than anyone what this research means to the field. Besides, that Director position was always meant for you. If it wasn't
tic mess of grief and anticipation of what she was about
n answer soon." She hung up, turning her gaze

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