Emily stared at the man standing in the heart of the room, surrounded by petals like falling blossoms frozen in place.Her husband.The roses lay scattered across the floor, over the rugs, trailing toward him as though the house itself had guided her there. The soft glow of the lamps caught the red petals and made them seem darker, richer. The air-conditioning hummed quietly, cool and steady, yet it did nothing to ease the heat gathering beneath her skin.“I’d ask where you have been,” Damien said at last, his voice low, measured, “but that wouldn’t be a good way to start the evening.”Emily didn’t answer.Instead, she bent slightly and reached down to take off her shoes, her fingers working at the straps with deliberate calm. The silence stretched between them, heavy and watchful.“Toss them away,” he said again, finally.She straightened and let the shoes fall where they may, the soft thud swallowed by the carpet and petals.When she looked up, Damien was holding out his hand.She h
Last Updated : 2026-02-09 Read more