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"Well. That's convenient."

"What does Cannes have to do with Everett keeping something from me?"

"It doesn’t but it will bring Everett out of the self-inposed dungeon he’s put himself in. And it gives us time for Christian to work harder on finding a loophole. If anyone can, it's him." She lifts a brow. "And if you want to know whether Everett loves you enough to choose you—let him chase you."

The doors slide open.

I don't move.

"Chase me," I repeat.

Sienna steps into the lobby and turns back.

"Preferably internationally. Men like Everett need dramatic incentives."

A startled, broken laugh comes out of me. First real one all day.

Sienna's expression softens. Just slightly.

"I bet my career on him once," she says. "I'd do it again on this."

She starts walking. I hurry after her.

"Sienna—what if he doesn't come?"

That makes her stop. Really stop.

When she turns, there's nothing light in her face.

"Then you'll know," she says simply. "And you'll build a life anyway."

I look down at the folder. At the annulment papers I won't sign. At the test still zipped in my purse.

Then at Gabriel's message.

Cannes. Space. A door opening.

"Okay," I say.

"Good."

I glance back toward the elevator, toward Christian's floor, toward the city beyond the glass doors.

Then back at her.

"How fast do you think Christian can work?"

Now she really smiles. "That's more like it."

Chapter Thirty-Six

EVERETT

Three days since Aria went to Christian's office to sign the annulment papers, and I still haven't asked whether she did.

Three days of not knowing if I'm divorced. If Aria still carries my last name. If any of it is still real or if I'm just a man sleeping in his brother's guest room mourning a marriage that already ended on paper while I wasn't brave enough to check.

Pathetic is the word.