It was pricier than she'd originally planned, but considering how much Antho

g bag in hand, she unexpectedly locked e

Hawth

emotion. Then his gaze shifted to t

ware, she looked warm and harmless-a stark contrast to

up at the store's sign and commented blandly

e maintained her flawless professional

sting hundreds of thousands? That was Edward's reality, not hers. Most o

casual. "Didn't

her bag and held it out calmly. "This one's for a

led history between her and Edward made everything complicated

eld out, then back at her, somet

ially not cold, hard cash. He couldn't tell if she was

remained light. "I need your assistance t

steakhouse

tying balloons

se his wife with a romantic dinner. William had taken

r her and Edward-not that he

, and as Alice wrestled with balloons, Edward s

and eventually shaping them into an arch

ing that night a drunken mistake-the truth rem

ssible to imagine looki

h everything quickly and s

hrough the phone: "Mr. Hawthorne,

hts casting a stark glow over him. Under the lighting, the s

y at the video pl

om 1332, arms full of a huge bouquet of

hink no one was home,

eveless shirt, hair still dripping wet, a wrench

stunned. "

narrowed his eyes. The chil

Noticing the well-dressed man holding flowers at his

g that? Who are you, and why

ned a persistent guy from work

timing. He could help her

s hand grow heavy. He couldn't begin

ive here?

is arms. "What d

frigid. His grip on

e's E

ill made William flinch. His expression turned

e is

Anthony thought. She'd always had a kna

ed faintly at William. "She's not back ye

me from the bathroom. Anthony swore under his brea

d like a brewing storm. The slammed door on sc

d the nerve t

ed his p

AS

e spun around and saw nothing but a shattered phone on the ground-and E

oing in his ear. He glanced at the closed door, then at

hat Edward was possessive and ruthless-any man would

relationship, but Edward had always treated her as his wife. The bes

into the house, never used the card. Even the seas

gined things woul

g like that? That guy just now-how c

ldn't make

e the bouquet, then quietly placed

his phone rang-it was Alice. S

appened? Mr. Hawthorne ju

ed. "Don't ask. Tonight's di

gut feeling something had gone

loons, flowers, candles. everything looked p

estly, also relieved. At least she did

ctically radiating off him. Once there, he

s grandfather over the line. "So? Is tonight

ked on the cityscape from the 33rd floor. His

out a sharp sound,

n't even properly started your mar

his lips curling into a co

he floor, his face flushed with anger. "You think slandering her i

e'd never cheat. Are you making this u

voice flat. "They're living toge

aving it. "There must be

with my

breathing came through the phon

tched topics. "And what ab

is dark eyes unreadab

still cheating. He

was how easily Emily seemed to live with hers

into this properly," Mr. Hawthorne said with ra

. Sit down with Emily and be straight with her. If

round six, drained a

yes landed on a large, familiar bouquet