st time, the raw tear in the fabric

wreckage of a sailboat years ago, the accident that cost him his

sly left phone, a string of me

trayal that echoed in the quiet room

ad forgi

nes, were pillars of New York society, their un

e idea of her, the image they presente

accepted her tearful a

fragile peace se

me Liam

keting executive at Isabel

ss mistake discovered, but a

the subtle shift in Isabella's gaze when

ld wound reopen,

ont her directl

hat defined him turne

real estate empire, his influ

e a fe

n, irresistible promotion, a transfer t

aw

their engagement, to remove the tem

ted the transfer, her

h moment, that it was over, tha

oned, the devotion was a he

on the power, the image, the upcoming w

umed everything in its path, even

an who had drilled into her that emotion

different kind of strength,

lessons were

ct of desperation, a move to salva

was just a temporary fix for a p

moment when the carefully constructed fac

was not relief, he would later realize, but a d