Semua Bab Divorced My CEO Husband, He Came Begging: Bab 61 - Bab 70

I thought of his face when I'd confronted him about the investigation—not defensive or angry, but genuinely pained at having hurt me. It didn't excuse what he'd done, but it added a dimension I'd been reluctant to acknowledge."Enough about my brother," Sarah declared, clearly sensing my discomfort. "Let's talk Paris. If you accept the showcase offer, you'd come for eight weeks. We'd provide an apartment, studio space, materials budget, and a stipend."My pulse quickened at the concrete details, making the opportunity real in a way it hadn't been before. "And I'd have complete creative control?""Absolutely. Our role is support, not direction. We help with production resources, technical challenges, and of course, publicity and sales." She leaned forward, eyes bright with excitement. "Maya, your work could be in major European collections by spring. We're talking career-changing exposure."I took a deep breath, allowing myself to imagine it. My name, my vision, recognized international

Sarah's business card lay on my kitchen table, mocking me with its elegant simplicity. I'd smoothed out the wrinkles from my earlier breakdown, though the creases remained—permanent reminders of damaged possibilities. My finger traced the embossed lettering as I stared at her number, the phone heavy in my other hand.One call. One fucking call to change the trajectory of my life. All I had to do was say yes.Except I couldn't.The memory of Daniel's video burned behind my eyelids every time I blinked. The way my face had looked on that screen—glassy-eyed, vulnerable, stripped of all defenses. Not just physically naked, but emotionally exposed in a way that made me want to crawl out of my skin.Bali. Our third anniversary. Daniel had surprised me with the trip, playing the devoted husband with such conviction that I'd almost believed we were happy."Just us," he'd whispered on the plane, his fingers tangled possessively in my hair. "No distractions, no work. Just my beautiful wife and

Alex straightened as I approached, hands shoved deep in his pockets, expression carefully neutral. My steps faltered as our eyes met, but there was nowhere to retreat."Maya," he said, voice low and controlled. "We need to talk.""No, we don't." I moved to step around him, fumbling for my keys. "I have nothing to say to you.""Then just listen." He didn't touch me, didn't block my path, but his presence felt like a physical barrier nonetheless. "Sarah told me you turned down the Paris offer."Of course she had. Because nothing in my life could remain private, could stay my decision alone."And?" I finally found my keys, gripping them tightly enough to leave imprints on my palm."Why?" The single word carried more weight than a paragraph of accusations. "It's everything you've been working toward.""Maybe I changed my mind," I said, voice deliberately flat. "People do that.""Not you. Not about this." His eyes searched my face, seeing too much, understanding too little. "Something happ

Outside his office, I bypassed the elevator in favor of the stairwell, needing movement, exertion, anything to burn off the toxic cocktail of rage and helplessness consuming me from the inside.I burst into the lobby, gulping humid air that barely qualified as fresh but at least didn't taste like Daniel's expensive cologne. My hands trembled as I fumbled with my visitor badge, eager to remove any trace of my connection to this place."Maya? Maya Russo?"I turned at the sound of my name, confusion momentarily displacing distress. A woman approached—vaguely familiar, with short-cropped dark hair and intelligent eyes behind chunky glasses."It's Zoe," she said, registering my blank expression. "Zoe Chen? From Parsons?"Recognition clicked. "Oh my god, Zoe. It's been—""Seven years, at least," she finished, grinning. "What are you doing here? Wait, stupid question. You're married to Daniel Russo." Her eyes flicked to my bare ring finger. "Or...were?""Were," I confirmed. "We're separated.

The words hung in the air between us, his honesty stripping away my rehearsed defenses."You're not broken, Maya." His voice dropped lower. "You're the strongest person I've ever met."That caught me off guard. I opened my mouth but found I had nothing to say."I'm not here to fix you," Alex continued. "Every time I try to give you space, I imagine Daniel showing up at your door. I worry about what he might do."His proximity was suddenly overwhelming—the faint scent of his cologne, the warmth radiating from him, the intensity in his eyes that had nothing to do with professional interest.I kissed him.I'm not sure which of us was more surprised. One moment I was furious, the next I had him by the collar, my mouth crashing against his. The kiss wasn't gentle—it was all teeth and tongue, my body flush against his, heat pooling between my legs. My fingers tangled in his hair, tugging harder than necessary. I wanted to hurt him a little, wanted him to feel something raw and uncontrolled l