LOGINThe auctioneer's cadence moved through the wall. I had built something without him. That was still true. It would stay true. Whatever I said next didn't touch it. "I don't know," I said. "That's the honest answer. Not the managed version." I met his gaze. "I don't know if what's left is enough to
Alicia's POV The older man was still talking. "Seven years," he said. "Four jurisdictions. We moved water infrastructure across borders that hadn't spoken to each other in a generation." His hands traced corridors in the air between us. "The archive is the proof it happened. That it worked." He tu
“You entered without cause,” I said. “You stayed without one.” “I don’t know what this is between you two but—” “My wife.” No variation in tone. No additional weight needed. Alicia’s hand lifted a little, then halted mid-motion and settled again without completing the gesture. The woman exhaled
Edward’s POV “Forty thousand. Do I have forty-five?” The paddle was already raised. Alicia’s hand remained under mine, unchanged in position, as though neither of us had adjusted to its presence since it settled there. “Forty-five.” I raised. “Fifty. Fifty-five.” On the left, a man leaned forw
The fifth lot began. Edward moved to speak to someone at the side of the room. I watched the auctioneer. She crossed the room toward him. He turned when she spoke. She laughed. It had worked before, that laugh. I scanned the sixth lot. Mixed media, authenticated 2019, provenance verified. Her h
Alicia's POV Volkov was already at the door when we came in. His eyes went to my dress and came back up. Lazily. He turned to Edward, and they shook hands. It ran a half-second longer than it needed. "You both came," he said. "You invited us," Edward said. "I invite many people. They don't alwa
Another reporter. "Can you be more specific about Monday's dinner?" "Key stakeholders were present. Board members. Investors. Ms. Perez—Edward's wife—offered a perspective on cultural work that clarified our approach considerably." The energy in the room sharpened. Alert. A woman in the front ro
And all I could think about was the petition sitting on my nightstand at home. "Sir?" I looked up. Leo was watching me. Waiting. "The press conference," I said. "Tell Victor's team Mrs. Valentine won't be available." Leo's expression didn't change. But his pause was longer than usual. "May I
Edward's POV The estate was quiet when I arrived. Erily calm. I walked through the front doors. Set my keys on the console table. Marble, cold under my fingers. The chandelier fractured light across the foyer, illuminating nothing that mattered. And stopped. Vivienne sat in the sitting room. Ba
I climbed the stairs. My footsteps echoed off the walls. The house swallowed the sound. The bedroom door was already open. I pushed through. My suit jacket from yesterday dropped carelessly over the chair. The bed was unmade. A water glass sat on the nightstand, half-empty, dew ring marking the w







