the neighbors peering through their curtains. Mrs. Gable from next

e. "Ryan... he had that woman stay the night.

humorless smile touching

meant nothing. The life she had built in this neighbor

ar their voices from inside. Chloe' s, high a

nference in Geneva... you know how much I' ve alway

as soothing. "I' ll sell some of my compa

to attend a prestigious architectural symposium in Rome. It was a career-defining op

frivolous with our money. My stock is for our future

ack of love. The difference was a trip t

ey were on the sofa, tangled together, a half-empty bottle of

ening with anger. "Where have you b

own expression unrea

ng what?"

er eyes full of false concern as she looked at Ava. "Ryan, don' t be upset wit

She was trying to provoke Ava, to

e of your concern," Ava said

arge of your old projects. I was looking through your designs...

sions, the passion she had poured into every blueprin

t work; it was about humiliation. She wanted a react

ing silence instead. The exhaustion was b

harge. "I' ve moved your things into the guest room. C

m for his mistress. The room was filled with Chloe' s things now – her clothe

flicker of something unrea

towards the guest room

her to fight for him. The fact that she didn' t was something he couldn't comprehend. He stood there, watching h