er end could finish, the

his handsome features darke

utiously, "Mr. Hawt

ession was gr

ve another man

enough to answer her phone while she was in the shower. That level of intimacy? E

en aback, his t

oman married to someone like

rless laugh. "Do you even k

wo full years building his career abroad. The truth was, he

sonality. She leads a healthy lifestyle, respects her elders, and is warm and generous to tho

rstepping, William rephrase

s long fingers tapping rhy

gently suggested, "Mr. Hawthorne, cou

married for two years. She never once reached out to me first. Now there's

ed their marriage. For two years, he'd done his best to provide

-she could have filed for divorce. But

nt. He didn't dar

around," Edwar

're not going to see

face, things might be cleared up. But on the other hand. what if he

ing with suppressed fury. "There's

at The Lodg

a soft towel, and immediately caught the d

le, where a tall, clean-cut young man stood. He looked r

f again," she grinned. "I'm l

sity, she'd rented an apartment near his. They often dropped by

is short hair tidy. His features were sharp, and

h flattery. You're in your twenties-s

couldn't resist snatching a piece of

nally cook my first meal, you'll b

't. I still want to live a few more ye

was sneakily munching on a rib. When he heard his name, he grinned

tures that closely resembled Anthony's. Hones

"Elbert, you're the best. Fro

d even wider, happi

of them and mentioned casually, "So

was her backup phone-she still kept her old SIM card

. There were two missed calls from an unknown number-the first o

y say wh

st said you'd call back and h

he phone just rang and

lbert's bowl. Elbert took small, ha

ced at Alice

ong number," A

membering the cold tone on the other end, Anthony raised an eyebrow. "Don't

. The marriage had been arranged between her grandfather and an old family friend. With no romantic prospects a

everely nearsighted, she'd missed her only chance to clearly see her new husband's face. Anthony had ne

. "Can you not joke a

s up? You're usually all sass wh

messages or missed calls from her all-but-invisi

her bones. No man would put up with an unfaithful spou

troduce you to someone decent-you know, a guy who doesn't vanish overseas

wry smile.

Anthony left

ery corner. Too tired to practice, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through the music charts. A small smile tou

om thought struck her,

e over there now. Why hasn't my so-