s brought a weird kind o

brand Sebastian used. Her mind buzzed with alcohol, an

ngers catching Liam's hand

awake-like falling b

e used to be w

are at the pitch-black road ahead. The night outside was like

s fair shar

thing coming off Elaria? That was new. He couldn't help but wonder w

f sky, firewo

night turned a

htly-barely a move, but Liam caught it. He gl

heavy and limp, but h

ink, and Liam had dragged her out

out scratchy. "

1:30," Liam

reworks above, her eyes glist

ireworks in the world. Thought they'd be mine forever. B

ng up meant he'd stay. Took me this long to get i

augh. "Tell me, Liam,

N

. "As long as you want to be,

trying to make

with some young girl? Sure. But the title of Mrs. R

e and turned back to watch

ropped her off at Imp

ned to thank him quietly

Liam said. "It's

he grabbed the coat and got out, saying goodbye. Liam nodded from the dri

he sky, and a col

fingers to her te

eper came

you drink tonight? Mr. Richards just called, said he's coming by to grab a

ind about the divorce. Sebastian

agged herself upstairs with Liam's jacket clutched in

Elaria's sleeping figure-making her look fragile, almost unreal.That black tailore

*

f the yard was broken by the

ian wa

Things between him and Elaria hadn't ended well earlier. With Bianca's worsening

to Sebastian. The housekeeper hesitated a second, then added, "Mrs. Richards just

w furrowed. "Sh

ause, he decided t

He pushed open the door

wine lingering in the air. Even her soft br

the light near the bed. Brigh

. Her silk shirt hung open at the collar, exposing pale flawless skin. The hem of h

t figure-Sebastian knew

ven brought up work mid-way-it was hard to feel desire when your partner talke

Maybe it had just been too long. Maybe, despite tryi

of the bed, quietly

pinched together, like there

ove her back. The only thing he ever gave her was the title of Mrs. Rich

hed up to bru

old to t

gh? Elaria... Feelings that strong always come with a price. I thou

him was her steady

ave when something caug

et was lying at t

signer-he wore similar brands himse

to be

Liam probably didn't think much of it, but as a husband, seeing an

was h

*

the lights w

slept, waiting for Se

pstairs, she looked up to see him desc

t in his hand and said flatly, "Clean t

without a wo

f. But then, for some reason, he paused and look

e Elaria wa

said she had something important to tell hi