Lia woke up alone.Not unusual. Julian's side of the bed was cold and empty, sheets perfectly smooth like he hadn't come home at all. She checked her phone. 6:47 AM. No missed calls. No texts explaining where he was.She used to worry when this happened. Used to call him twenty times, imagine car accidents and emergencies. Now she just felt numb.The after-party must have been really good.She got up, showered, dressed in jeans and a sweater. Clothes that were hers, not the designer outfits Margaret approved of. It was Saturday, which meant no charity events, no business dinners, no pretending. She could be herself for one day.Except she wasn't sure who that was anymore.By nine-thirty, she was out the door. The drive to Isla's café took twenty minutes through morning traffic. Silvercrest was beautiful this time of day, all coastal fog and quiet streets before the city fully woke up. She used to love this city. Used to walk these streets with sketchbooks, finding inspiration in random
Last Updated : 2025-11-24 Read more