I always brought roses.
Corinne gave a broken laugh.
“That was the moment I knew I would leave you.”
“Then why stay another month?”
“Because I needed to understand our finances.
Because I had no income of my own after leaving my career.
Because we had a newborn.
Because I wanted legal advice before I moved.
Because I needed somewhere safe to go.”
Each reason was practical.
Measured.
Exactly like Corinne.
“I also wanted to see if you would choose us without being forced.”
“What?”
“After Owen was born, I stopped checking for a while.”
“I told myself maybe becoming a father would wake you up.”
The Charleston trip.
Nine days at the coast.
“I knew about the development inspection,” she continued.
“I knew you actually had a meeting.”
“So you thought—”
“I thought maybe you’d go for one day.”
I barely meet her eyes.
“Then you booked the villa.”
