fternoon: brief, coldly f

Delphina's. Dre

expected the

ext for a long mome

phi

once mentioned taking her to after th

he way. Marina's return had taken prio

y

black dress she'd bought two years ago on impulse, back when she still hoped he

ugh the quiet restaurant to a table near the tall windows. The plac

ner, booked exc

y dressed in a charcoal suit

look at her w

seat across from him. A glass of w

nk, swirling it like th

rant," she said flatly, "f

"You earned this dinner. You handled Proje

professiona

ly met h

expecting some

Did she have the right to

urse as if this were any ordinary anniversary dinner. But

t remarks. She responded with polite nods, eyes scan

late ganache with spiced raspb

message

candal is everywhere. Some

y the divorce announcement. Pr

. The chocolate turne

cou

mance. It was

ve just asked me to cooperate. You

just slightly. "I thought yo

, if it wer

s chair, watching he

Mr. Hardison,

arkened his gaze. "You w

e public announcement. I won't go to the press. I'l

aw fl

lled. "You were perfectly fine being my wife for five years. Knowin

ol," she sa

n't act like this was some noble sacrific

"What exactly do

You knew I wasn't offering love. You still signed that

slowly, d

e. Not as a placeholder. Not as a secretary. But as a person. A

onologue. If this is about money, my

ists. The anger built like a

," she whispered. "That's the only

It's the only language

without warning,

y restaurant like a gunshot. The waiter dropped a fork

didn't

d mark blooming on his cheek

t, ragged pulls. Her puls

, grabbing her clutch.

glass vase beside her. It teetered, then toppl

ould flinch,

as the vase shattered inches from her feet. A shard bo

" he m

im, stunned. "Yo

ed down, checking her leg

d, still

ter, stepping back like t

th towels. David dismi

cuff of his white shirt,

kin and reached fo

d I'm

vid

irm but not harsh. His

me and then play the

gold-digging and then throw you

und by years of silence and buried