ilk dress from the party lay in a heap on the floor, a shimmering reminder of my public execution. I sat on the window seat, staring out at the perfectly manicured gardens, but I saw no

there was a soft

hl

My entire bod

holding a tray with a bowl of soup and a glass of water. He looked tired, hi

softly, setting the tray down on the table. "You'

of me, taking my cold hands in

who did this to you. I have my team looking into it. We think it was a rival company, someone tryin

as perfect. If I hadn't heard him with my own ears, I would have bel

, all I could see was the mo

mind a whirlwind of his confession and his curre

ening slightly. "We're a team. We'll get through this together.

ix," I finally whispe

els that way now, but we're strong. Your reputation

then I saw it. A flicker in his eyes. A tiny, almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw when he said "our life together." It was the crack in his performance

y withdrawal because

is phone as if on cue. "It's about the investigation int

ps were warm, but I felt a chill spread throu

e promised. "Try to eat

ving, quickly, with a convenient excuse. I knew he wasn't going to a business call. He was going back to Sophia, to celebrate their victory. I was a loose