Timothy's gaze was dark and unreadable as he stared at her.

A heartbeat later, he grabbed her hand and led her firmly down the hallway.

They rode the elevator in silence, straight to the top floor.

Jessica let herself be pulled along, passive, until they entered the penthouse suite.

Once inside, Timothy pressed her gently down onto the sofa. He crouched in front of her, eyes intense. "Why haven't you been answering your phone?"

His voice was low and a little rough around the edges.

Jessica looked down at him—a man in a perfectly tailored suit, always so composed and charismatic, effortlessly charming. Once, she'd found that impossible to resist.

Now, she had no desire left to love him.

She raised her hand, voice flat. "Didn't feel like it."

An unmistakable shadow of annoyance flickered in Timothy's dark eyes.

"You never used to act like this."

pale fingers danced dismissively through the air.

you're really set on this

had a hard

a scene," she answered quietly, her gaze empty,

hands through his hair in frustration. He paced the luxurious carpet, then crouched again in front of her. He removed her mask and sunhat, setting them

between us," he said, jaw tight. "Seven years of

From inside his jacket, Timothy pulled out a velvet box, flipped it open,

night before last, I booked a red-eye flight. Saw this brooch at the airport and thought it would suit you. I meant to bring it over, but there was a thunderstorm in Capital City and my flight was delayed. When I finally got your call for help, I—" Timothy stopped. He didn't say that he'd rushed to her side, only to arrive too late. That he'd tried his best, and didn't feel the need to justify

been the perfect wife-gracious, considerate. Surely, she wouldn't hold a petty grudge over something

coaxing her. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. That's on

His voice

gave him a mocking

total. Today, Sheila wore one; the rest, no doubt,

was offering Jessica one of those castoffs, hoping to

over.

she was worth to him? Only what was left over after he'd given the best

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