Three weeks later, Sadi returned to the Galleria.

Not for Trevor.

For the cufflinks.

Roman still didn't want them.

She still intended to buy them.

The sales associate smiled.

“Mrs. Vale.”

“Please call me Sadi.”

She opened the display.

“These?”

“Unfortunately.”

The woman laughed.

Then the boutique doors opened.

Trevor walked inside.

Sadi's smile faded.

He looked different.

No tailored suit.

No arrogant grin.

His firm's internal review had ended with his resignation.

Chloe had returned her ring.

And now every consequence had become, in Trevor's mind, Sadi's responsibility.

“Sadi.”

The security guards moved.

She raised one hand.

“It's okay.”

Trevor stopped several feet away.

“I need five minutes.”

“You have one.”

“I lost everything.”

Sadi said nothing.

“My partnership. Chloe. My reputation.”

“You didn't lose them because of me.”

“Don't.”

“Don't what?”

“Pretend your husband had nothing to do with it.”

Roman's voice came from behind him.

“She doesn't need to pretend.”

Trevor turned.

Roman approached alone.

Trevor's shoulders tensed.

Roman stopped beside Sadi.

Not in front of her.

Again.

Always beside her.

Trevor laughed bitterly.

“There he is.”

Roman said nothing.

“You enjoy this?”

“No.”

“You destroyed my life.”

Roman looked genuinely puzzled.

“I haven't spoken to your employer.”

“Liar.”

“I haven't contacted your fiancée.”

Trevor glanced at Sadi.

Roman continued.

“I haven't contacted the press. I haven't interfered with your finances. I haven't even requested the six hundred dollars you stole.”

Trevor flushed.

“Then why are you here?”

Roman looked at the cufflinks.

“My wife is attempting to buy me something ugly.”

Sadi elbowed him.

The sales associate covered a smile.

Trevor stared at them.

Something in him broke.

“You think this is funny?”

“No,” Sadi said.

“You think you're better than me now.”

“No.”

“You married money.”

Sadi stepped forward.

“There it is.”

“What?”

“The only explanation you can tolerate.”

She shook her head.

“You need me to have gotten lucky because otherwise you have to admit you were wrong about me.”

Trevor's face tightened.

“I know who you are.”

“No. You knew who I was when I was scared of you.”

He fell silent.

Sadi continued.

“You don't know the woman who came after.”

Trevor looked toward Roman.

“Did she tell you everything?”

“Yes,” Roman said.

“All of it?”

“Yes.”

“How pathetic she was?”

Roman's expression changed.

Sadi touched his hand.

Roman stayed where he was.

Sadi faced Trevor.

“I worked double shifts so we could eat.”

“You were going nowhere.”

“I earned a scholarship.”

“You would've abandoned me.”

“You abandoned me.”

Trevor's voice rose.

“I made you stronger!”

The entire boutique became quiet.

Sadi stared at him.

Then she slowly shook her head.

“No.”

Trevor stopped.

“You don't get that.”

“What?”

“You don't get credit for the person I became after surviving you.”

Trevor had no answer.

Mall security approached.

This time Sadi didn't stop them.

One guard said, “Sir, you need to leave.”

Trevor looked at Roman.

Then Sadi.

For the first time, there was no superiority in his eyes.

Only defeat.

“Sadi.”

She waited.

“I loved you.”

She considered those words.

Then answered softly.

“Maybe you believed you did.”

Security escorted him away.

Roman watched until Trevor disappeared.

Then Sadi turned toward the counter.

“I'll take the cufflinks.”

Roman frowned.

“We just had an important emotional moment.”

“Yes.”

“And you've chosen to ruin it.”

“They're elegant.”

“They're terrible.”

The sales associate laughed.

Sadi handed her a card.

Roman sighed.

Then he noticed the name embossed on it.

SADI BENNETT-VALE.

Her own account.

Her own foundation salary.

Her own money.

Roman smiled.

Sadi caught him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You're smiling.”

“I don't smile.”

“You're literally smiling.”

Roman leaned down.

“Buy the terrible cufflinks.”

---