muster, my voice strained as I fight to ho
sion of irritation. "You're not grasping the situation, Aza," he retorts, h
rain, knocking the wind out of me
I already know the answer. "How do you k
ing. His movements are tense as he stands behind me, peering out onto the ter
irls back to face me, a smirk dr
penthouse had become a norm, his late nights a predictable pattern that I had grown ac
up as the standard against which I could never measure, the one he'd wanted to wed but had
composure. "You saw her? In public? Do you realize
t, I also know that Hudson couldn't afford a scandal. It would be a media frenzy if the paper
e casting a shadow over mine. His eyes
u think I am?" he
e trembling with a combination of fury and anguish. "You made vows to
with contempt. "Those vows were a mistake," he dec
er? What makes you think she won't reject you again?" I push, uns
ismissing me with a wave of his hand. "I never loved you, Aza. You were
e man I fell in love with, who swept
d your purpose, Aza. And now we are finished," h
I've sacrificed everything for this man-my career, my dreams, my dignity-and in retur
r crystal tumbler, a wedding gift from my cousin, and ask, "Wh
chair at the eating nook with me, reaching for his tablet as if the matter is settl
nd captivating, seemingly as much in love with me as I was with him. He swept me o
too in love to pay attention. The whispers got louder when our engagement was r
I keep hearing about," I ask
ehind my ear. He smiled and laughed a soothing chuckle. "We
resence a constant reminder of my inadequacy. Hudson would compare the clothes I bought to w
at love, not me, but it was not long after that night. For ten years, I
t back-to unleash the full force of my fury upon Hudson
damned if I don't rise from the ashes, str
re, Hudson," I vow, my voice a whi