Page 112 of Beautiful Lies

Right.

The word echo inside me like a dull thud, and everything that happened last night fades into the ether.

Was I the fool again?

I glance down at the rings on my finger and remember what he said to me.

Wear them for me.

For a few stolen hours, it felt like the wall between us didn’t exist at all.

And now he’s gone.

Back to work.

Back to the world where I’m not his priority.

A quiet sting blooms beneath my ribs, and the thought of traveling without him settles strangely in my stomach.

Last night, we were fire.

Now, I’ll be boarding a jet alone.

I swallow hard and force myself to nod. “Okay. I’ll get ready.”

“Alright. Come down for breakfast when you’re finished, then we’ll head out.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Sheila gives me a sympathetic smile before slipping out of the room, closing the door with a careful click that somehow feels louder than it should.

The quiet she leaves behind sinks into my bones.

I fall back against the pillows, a low heaviness settling in my stomach as I try to process what’s happening. And how I’m supposed to be okay with it.

Knox and I had sex all night.All night.

I know I’d be a fool to think it meant anything. Or that it was supposed to change anything. But him leaving me to head off the work makes me feel like shit.

I’ve never heard of a husband sending his wife off on their honeymoon by herself. Never.

But then again, nothing about us is normal.

Once again, Knox Vale has thrown me off balance.

Goddamn it. He shouldn’t have this power over me. The power to tilt my world. But here I am, staring up at the ceiling wondering how I can escape theTwilight Zoneyet gain.

I drag a hand over my face, trying to gather myself, to pull the pieces back together. But another thought slides into my mind, and I bolt upright.

The woman.

The woman I saw Knox with at the wedding.

I still don’t know who she was. He never said anything about her. He didn’t even refute my accusations.

His only reaction was a faraway look in his eyes. Then he hooked me with that one line about showing me what’s real, and I was a goner.

I didn’t even care about the whole Chad present thing, which yes, I agree, it was highly inappropriate.