Semua Bab After the Divorce, My Ex Husband Came Crawling Back: Bab 101 - Bab 110

DURRELLI think about Harold Bennett's words in the ballroom. I think about Victor's face afterward. I think about the fraction of a second where something cracked behind Victor's eyes before he shut it down.I think about all of it and I say nothing, because we're standing in a federal building hallway and now is not the time. The time for it will definitely come. Soon enough.The corridor is quiet except for distant keyboard sounds and a phone ringing somewhere twice before going unanswered. Charles gets coffee from a machine near the stairwell for both of us.Four hours after Okafor went back in, the conference room door opens, and Victor walks out first.He looks exactly the same as when he walked in. That's either impressive or unsettling depending on how well you know him. His jacket is buttoned, and his expression is composed. He scans the corridor briefly, finds Charles and me, and walks toward us without rushing.Behind him, Agent Reeves emerges. Then Chen and Morris, both of

DURRELLI step slightly closer and lower my voice. "Meaning your father just spent four hours in an interview room being careful about every single word he said. Okafor spent that same time managing the legal exposure. And the first thing you did when you walked out was hand Reeves exactly the kind of reaction she was looking for." I hold his gaze. "She's not investigating a shipping dispute, Maxwell. She's investigating an organization. And you just made her job slightly more interesting."Something moves behind his eyes. Anger first, then something colder. "I made one comment.""You asked about the whistleblower before asking if your father was alright."Maxwell goes silent. Charles looks between us, and Victor says nothing, still watching the middle distance.Maxwell straightens. "I'll call you tomorrow," he says to Victor. Then he walks toward his own car without looking at me again.I watch him go. The way he moves, the set of his shoulders, and the slightly-too-controlled pace

SELENE“You two are deeply strange.”"We hear that a lot," Zael says pleasantly, slipping into the empty spot on my other side as we reach the dance floor.The music swells, and the crowd around us moves to the beat. Kael's hand finds my waist from one side, while Zael slides in close on the other, his chest brushing my shoulder as we move together.For one moment, I genuinely don't know what I'm doing or why I'm here or what any of this means. Then the bass drops and I stop caring.Kael’s grip tightens, his thumb tracing slow circles on my hip as he leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “You feel that?” he murmurs, his voice a rough whisper that makes my skin prickle.I nod, unable to form words, my own hands sliding up to rest on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms. Zael’s mouth hovers near my ear, his tongue flicking out to trace the shell before he whispers something absurd about the DJ’s life choices that make Kael choke on his laugh, a short, surp

SELENEI walk back into the main room. Kael is on his phone near the window. Zael is washing dishes. They both look up when I enter."I have to go," I say.Kael lowers his phone. "What's wrong?""Something came up." I pause. "Victor Cox was detained last night. Questioned by federal agents."Kael's expression doesn't change. Neither does Zael's. Which tells me they already knew."You knew," I say."We heard," Kael says carefully. "I need to find him," I say. "See if he's alright."Kael reaches for my phone. I hand it to him. He types his number into it, saves the contact, and hands it back."In case you want to find us again," he says.I look at him. Then at Zael, who has turned from the sink and is watching me with that same measured attention."Thank you," I say. "For last night. For this morning. For not...""For not what?""For not making me feel worse than I already do."Kael nods once. Zael says nothing, but something in his expression softens slightly.I leave the penthouse in

DURRELLI tell myself I'm only in Blackbridge because I have meetings. That lie lasts approximately six minutes.The moment my driver turns toward the old Cox Energy regional offices instead of downtown, I stop pretending. I'm here because of Helena. My mother.Or more specifically, because of the growing pile of things nobody wants to tell me about her.The building looks smaller than I remember. Thirty years ago, it was one of the largest commercial properties in Blackbridge. Now it sits wedged between newer towers and modern glass developments. Old money surrounded by new money.The receptionist downstairs doesn't recognize me. That's refreshing. Everyone in Lakebridge knows who I am. Here I'm just another man asking questions."Personnel archives?" she repeats.I nod. "I'm researching some historical staffing records." Technically true.After a few calls and several signatures, I'm directed toward a records department buried deep in the basement.The woman waiting there is at lea