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Go to Cannes. Show her work. Stand in rooms full of people who see her before she has to explain herself. Be with whoever she wants.

Gabriel's note is still sitting at the bottom of that card.

Aria— there is a place for you here when you're ready.

Sienna's voice cuts through.

"If you really meant to let her go, you would've sent it already."

I look at her and she doesn't soften because that's who Sienna is. She doesn't let you off the hook just because the truth is inconvenient.

"I'm trying not to make things worse."

"No," she says. "You're trying not to make them final. There's a difference."

Sienna glances down at the ring on her hand.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

I frown. "For what."

"For the fact that whatever happened between you and your wife, you're clearly not the only one paying for how it started."

For a second I can't answer.

Because she's right.

And because hearing the word wife from Sienna should feel strange but it doesn’t because Aria is still my wife. On paper and in every damn place that matters. Just not in any way I'm allowed to keep her.

I set one hand flat on the seat between us.

"If Jeremy reaches out again," I say, "Don't intervene. It sounds like he's already tied himself to a boat anchor. Let the rest take care of itself."

Sienna nods once. "You're getting soft in your old age. Does that have anything to do with falling in love."

I grin. "Most likely."

I move to get out of the car and then Sienna speaks.

"For what it's worth, Everett?"

I glance back at her.

"If you're trying to convince yourself she'll be better off in someone else's world," she says, "don't keep carrying proof that you still want to be in it."

I hold her gaze for one beat and then glance down at the invitation peeking out of my briefcase.

Then I open the door and step out onto the sidewalk.

The car pulls away behind me, and I stand there for one second longer than necessary with the briefcase in my hand and two names running parallel in my head.

Jeremy. Who sold me out because he thought he deserved a seat that was never his.

And Aria. Who's being pulled toward a life I told myself I wanted for her.

I should let her go. I should hand the damn invitation to Everly tonight and be done with it.

As much as I want to keep thinking there’s a way out, Jeremy sealed our fate.