Page 62 of A Sinful Gravity

I tossed the phone aside and sat staring at the sapphire ring on the table. Last night before leaving, I'd slipped it into my pocket, waiting for the right moment. But in the end, I never took it out.

I had no right to give it to her.

I picked up the ring again, held it to the window light, and watched the tiny fractures of brilliance deep inside.

Six years ago, when I'd ordered this ring, all I'd thought was that she deserved it.

Never gave it to her.

This time I'd wanted to tell her I'd carried it for six years, that I'd thought of her every single day—but I couldn't say it. Because I'd done the same thing as six years ago. I'd hurt her.

The doorbell rang. Urgent, almost pounding.

I opened it. Chloe stood there, hair disheveled, eyes red and swollen—clearly hadn't slept all night. She shot me a withering glare and shouldered past me into the apartment.

"Are you insane?" I stared at her in disbelief.

"Luna told me not to come." Her voice was ice. "But I stayed up all night and realized I couldn't do it."

"I—"

"What the hell did you do to her?" Her voice shook. "You forced yourself on her, Cassian. What are you trying to accomplish?"

"I just wanted her not to leave again. I was going to apologize... I know I fucked up." I felt my strength drain away.

Chloe laughed bitterly. "Fucked up? You always say that! Six years and you haven't changed! You get emotional and lose control, and when you lose control, you hurt her! Do you have any idea how broken she looked last night?"

I couldn't breathe. Chloe's blunt verdict made me afraid to hear more.

Seeing my defeated state, Chloe crossed her arms and sat on the couch.

"Cassian." She stood again, voice softening slightly. "I know you're not good with feelings. But if you keep going down this path, you'll lose her forever."

"I hope you understand what I'm saying. And stop forcing her." The door slammed shut behind her.

I stood in the shadows.

I finally understood. Understood why she'd looked sick when I'd said "legal wife." To me, it meant ownership. To her, it was just another chain.

God, Cassian. What have you done?

I was still lost in thought when the knocking came again.

Chloe back for more?

I opened the door. Marco stood there instead. My place was quite the hot spot today.

His signature lazy smile was plastered across his face. "Hey, man. Why do you look like death?"

He waved a folder. "Your assistant said you canceled all your meetings today. A partner sent this over this morning, needs your signature today. I had nothing going on."

I stepped aside to let him in. "Had some things to handle today."

He set the folder on the table, then stood there, his gaze drifting down to the tablet open in front of me. He stopped.

I followed his line of sight. The tablet showed a photo from the report—Luna beaming on stage.

Marco stared at it. "Wait." He said. "This woman..."