Gwen's life was perfect --- until it wasn't.
After her husband's deception is revealed, the young mother must face a new reality without her childhood sweetheart. No longer chained to a life as the ideal wife, discovering the truth is the push Gwen...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Readers can safely skip this chapter if they prefer to see the story only from Toby and Gwen's POV or to avoid darker content.
💔 Content Warning 💔 The writing has been carefully worded to avoid being too graphic, but please be aware this bonus chapter covers darker themes. Mentions organized crime, illegal substances, violence, murder and death.
LIAM
The city was sleeping in shadows when the clock struck midday...then eight P.M....then seven A.M....
My gaze stopped tracking the row of clocks behind my desk, and I listened to the sound of footsteps approaching my office. Cautious and steady, and then silence. Eli. He always paused before he wandered in. Gathered his nerves. Pinned on that crooked smile, dialed up the boyish charm, and cracked open the door.
It was all for nothing, of course. We both understood that I wouldn't be swayed. Yet, we still danced to this awkward tune because Eli had fooled himself into believing he could save my soul. Ten P.M. was far too late for that. He would have needed to capture me in my beautiful maman's womb, and even then, his chances were slim.
"You're still here." Eli's smile faded and turned to a tight look of pain when he noticed me glance back at the clocks. "Not for long, though..."
"No."
"I thought maybe we could—"
"Not tonight."
He sighed. "Don't do this."
I turned my gaze back to the sprawling lights of the city. Responding any other way was pointless. My plan had been set in motion a month ago, and indecision got people killed. A faint smirk reflected in the darkened window. Literally.
"Liam."
"Eli."
"You promised."
Still with my back to him, I lifted my gaze to the ceiling. Had I?
"You did."
My shoulder twitched in irritation. Little mind reader. Two decades was too long to spend with one person, and yet... Selfishly, I'd never give him up.
"That was our deal," Eli had the nerve to remind me. "If you made Gwen part of our lives, you had to stop..." He gulped. "Well..."
I turned. "There are mitigating factors." I gave Eli a wintery smile. "I can assure you everything has been carefully arranged."
That comment did nothing to settle the worry turning him almost green. He leaned his derriere on the edge of my desk, clasping the edge until his knuckles turned the same dull white. The sight knotted around my lungs.
