The walls were bare, with none of the little touches Charlotte would have added. Even the curtains weren’t in a color she liked.

Zac closed his eyes, but the image in his mind only sharpened–Charlotte tangled up in bed with that man.

Were they doing bit /bright now!

A sharp, unshakable pain gripped his chest,

Before he came here, he had yed out a hundred different scenarios in his head. But not once had he considered the possibility that Charlotte had already moved

on with someone else.

People said heartbreak happened twice in a rtionship.

Once at the breakup, and again when you saw the other person with someone new

For Zac, that saying bproved /bpainfully true.

bThe /bnext bday/b, the sky was high and clear, the kind of crisp, golden wat moming that felt too good to waste.

|Charlotte had ns to go out with Sean, so she let herself sleep bin /bband /bbhad /bba /blight breakfast before getting ready.

She bwore /ba long–sleeyed ck velvet dress with soft vintage lines. Her long, dark waves draped elegantly over her shoulders, and the bold red lipstick she cho paired perfectly with the dress.

She already had striking features–strong brows, high nose bridge, big almond eyes—but today, her look was next–level stunning. She was bold, confident and unforgettable.

bSean’s /bbck /bCullinan SUV was parked outside when she came downstairs.

She spotted him leaning against the car, finishing up a bphone /bcall.

When he saw her, his eyes lit up bfor /bba /bsecond before he hung up and smiled. “This look really suits you,” he said, admiring the outfit band /bmakeup.

Charlotte smiled as she pulled open the passenger–bside /bdoor band /bgot in. “So, where bare /bwe going?”

“You’ll see,” he replied.

He was driving himself today–no bassistant/b, no chauffeur.

They left the city behind, trading sleek skyscrapers for long stretches of open road and rolling countryside. The sky was a clear, endless blue, and golden fields of swayed gently in the breeze

Fammers were scattered across thend, busy with the harvestb. /bEvery so often, they passed quiet farmhouses with hare apple trees out front, their branches stripped. |_ clean–signs that fall was in full swing.

Charlotte rolled the window down halfway. The cool breeze slipped in, carrying a bhoneysuckle /bbor /bjust the scent bof /bautumn in the air.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “Mmm. this is so nice.”

Sean kept bhis /beyes on the broad/bb. /bb“/bWe’re almost there.”

a faint track of dried leaves and something sweet–maybete–blooming

After another twenty minutes on ba /bnarrow brural /bcement road, the car stopped in front of a modest three–story farmhouse

“We’re here,” he said, turning off the engine and ncing at her.

Charlotte looked at the house, surprised. “Where is this?”

Sean sailed slightly, “Come see

As soon as they stepped out, a man caine walking toward them. He looked ba /bbit puzzled at first, then surprised, and finally broke toto a wide grin. “Mr. bJasper/b, what ba /bbsurprise/b!”

He handed Seana cigarette.

Charlotte noticed the bbrand/b–Yellow Crane Tower. It was one of those cheap ones she had seen inconvenience stores, maybe ten or fifteen dors a bpack /b

She watched in fascination as Sean–dressed in his busual /bhigh–end, tailored bsuit/b–epted it without a word. The man lit it for him with ba /bbkind /bof revertice

*bSorry/b, Mr. Jasperb,/b”

“the man said with a sheeptal chuckle. “Didn’t know you were bing /bbtoday/b. Don’t have any Laney smokes bin /bthe house.”

Charlotte raised ba /bbow, cleady amused. So this was the kind of cigarette Scan bsmoked /bsometimesb? /b

bJudging /bbby /bbbow /bfamiliar the man was with him, Sean muste here often.

The man turned to her. “And this is?

“Miss Riley,“Sean said evenly.

The man’s face it up. “Miss Riley! You’re here!”

Then he turned his head and shouted toward the house, Mom! Mem–Miss Riley’s here!

Charlotte nced bat /bSean, confused.

“Wait.. these people know meb?/bb” /bshe wondered.