Page 58 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

“It’s not exactly ideal, especially because I will start to show eventually. But it could be far worse. It’s supposition, he can’t prove—” My voice trails off as I scroll down. My heart clenches.

All of Dominic’s past, aired for the world to see when the one thing he wanted was privacy. When I get to the part about his mother, read about how she moved on, I want to cry.

“Dominic.” I reach for him, but he stands.

“I need a moment.” And then he walks away, down the stairs and onto the beach. Away from me.

I sit there, heartbroken. How is this possible? How could we have been so happy yesterday, only to fall so far in the span of a single morning? Beneath his cold demeanor, I saw pain. A pain so deep I can feel it in my soul. A pain that’s been exposed because of who I am. And, as the article shows, this will never stop.

Slowly, my own pain slips away, replaced by an iron resolve. I made a vow that if who I am and what I do were to ever hurt him, I would set him free. I can’t bring myself to wish we’d never gotten married. Selfish, but it’s the truth.

But I can set him free now.

With my decision made, I stand and move back into our suite. I shower, dress and start to pack.

Dominic comes back thirty minutes later. I don’t say hello to him, and he doesn’t say anything to me, just starts to mimic my movements and pack his bags. The silence between us is oppressive, a living, seething entity pushing on us, pressuring our deepest points of pain.

Dominic’s phone rings, and he answers. He makes a few noncommittal noises before hanging up. “I’ll need to go to New York in a week.”

My hands still. “I see.”

“The autumn gala for the Hawke Foundation is at the end of October. The venue flooded. Normally I just leave it to the staff, but I have a few other things I’d like to take care of, too.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. Remind myself that what I’m about to do is the best thing for both of us. “Okay. Maybe you should stay a little longer.”

His head snaps up as his eyes sharpen. “What are you doing?”

I tighten the sash on my dress, think of it as tightening my armor. “This was a fun excursion, Dominic, but it’s time to go back to reality.”

“Fun?” he repeats, his voice quietly lethal.

“I care about you. And because I care, I think it would be best for you to step back from your role.”

“And leave you to shoulder your duty alone?”

“I was born to this. It’s not your burden to carry.”

“For a woman who wants to have more choice, you’re doing one hell of a job taking away mine.”

I meet his gaze. Despite the anger in his voice, his face is still cold, empty.

“I saw the way you looked before you walked away. It’s similar to the one my parents have when they look at each other. I’m doing us a favor, Dominic. Better us separate our lives now before things get worse and the pressure becomes too much for either of us.”

“How does the baby factor into this?”

“I want you in the baby’s life. I would never ask you to give that up.”

“I just can’t be a part of yours,” he says quietly.

“Why would you want to? A few days of pleasure here and there while living the rest of your days with back-to-back meetings and conferences and cameras in your face—”

“I can help,” he grinds out. “And some of that pressure you place on yourself is because you’re so afraid of turning into your parents you work yourself half to death instead of setting boundaries.”

“You’re right. But answer me this. Was there a moment this morning when you felt trapped? Like you couldn’t escape a prison you’re now stuck in for the rest of your life?”

His silence is a death knell. If I had any hope left, it’s gone.

“You wanted me to set boundaries? I’m setting one now. One that will protect both of us. It may hurt right now, but I promise you, it will be the best thing for us in the long run so we don’t grow to hate each other.” I grab my suitcase. “Maybe it would be best if you went to New York now.”