My husband attended his brother’s luxurious wedding, but I wasn’t invited. I just smiled and responded with a trip to Rome. When it was time to pay for the reception, they started screaming…

Not grateful.

But public.

And that was enough.

I hung up.

My dessert was waiting.

The next afternoon, Ethan arrived in Rome looking like someone who had finally understood the cost of a decision.

We met in the hotel lounge.

Neutral ground.

“I should have stayed,” he said.

“Yes.”

“I should have defended you.”

“Yes.”

“I was a coward.”

At least he said it.

I let the silence sit before sliding the envelope across the table.

“If this continues,” I said, “it continues differently.”

He read every page.

Then he signed.