"How could that be, Connor? I've only ever thought of Audrey as a sister."

"She's a great person. I just looked out for her a bit more at the company, that's all."

"I never dreamed you'd get the wrong impression."

I stared hard at Edwin's achingly familiar face.

A year-long secret affair.

Three hundred and sixty-five nights of stolen passion.

And with one casual, dismissive sentence, he’d erased it all.

A sharp pang lanced through my chest, the sound of something inside me cracking.

But I took a deep, steadying breath and forced a smile onto my lips.

I stepped forward, linking my arm through Connor's.

"Don't worry, Connor. I'll bring my boyfriend to meet you on Thanksgiving."

Connor patted the back of my hand, his smile bright and encouraging.

"That's my girl! I can't wait to finally meet the guy you've been hiding from me."

"I'll have to vet him properly. I can't have just anyone dating my little sister."

Edwin didn't seem to be listening, his gaze fixed on Anaya, completely absorbed.

A piercing ache stabbed at my heart, but it was quickly followed by a spark of reckless revenge.

I curled my lips into a sharp smile and shot him a pointed look.

"Coincidentally, my boyfriend is also a CEO."

"His company is in Chicago."

The air around us went still.

The smile on Edwin's face instantly stiffened.

He glared at me, his lips forming the silent words: Don't you dare.

Just like he used to do when we would steal kisses in his penthouse.

Whenever the housekeeping staff walked by, he would shove me into the walk-in closet in a panic.

Then, he would peek through the door, his eyes pleading for me not to be angry as he stole a soft, apologetic kiss on my forehead.

But now, the panic in his eyes was pure fear—fear that I would ruin his perfect new life with Anaya.

Fear that I would expose him for the two-timing hypocrite he was.

I looked into those familiar, pleading eyes.

An invisible vise clamped around my heart, sending a shooting pain all the way to my fingertips.

My lips twitched. I looked away, pointedly ignoring him.

"But he's very low-key. I'll bring him to the next gala, and you'll all get to meet him."

Edwin visibly relaxed.

Suddenly, Connor's phone buzzed.

He answered it, and after a few seconds, his expression turned serious.

He hung up and gave us a tight wave.

"There's an issue with the European branch. I have to get back to the office for an emergency meeting."

"Looks like I'm pulling an all-nighter."

He turned to me, his eyes full of brotherly concern.

"Audrey, it's late. It's not safe for you to go home alone."

"Have Edwin drive you."

Anaya immediately tightened her grip on Edwin's arm, her smile sickeningly sweet.

"Don't worry, Connor. Edwin and I will take Audrey home. We'll make sure she gets there safely."

A wave of nausea churned in my stomach, and I threw up a hand to stop them.

"No, it's fine. I've already called a car. It's waiting just at the corner."

I turned to leave, but Edwin grabbed my wrist.

"Connor entrusted you to me. It's my responsibility to see you home safely."

Before I could protest, he was ushering me into the back seat of his Mercedes.

As soon as the car door closed, Edwin leaned over to fasten the seatbelt for Anaya in the passenger seat, murmuring for her to hold on tight.

Anaya wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, her voice a soft, coy purr.

"I know, darling. Drive safely."

I sat in the back, my eyes scanning the car's interior.

That passenger seat used to be my spot.

The center console used to hold the custom cufflinks I'd given him for his birthday.

The sun visor used to hold our first photo together, a silly polaroid from a street fair.

Even the air freshener was my favorite citrus scent.

But now, the cufflinks were gone.

The photo had been replaced by a glossy selfie of him and Anaya from the gala.

The air was thick with the cloying rose fragrance Anaya adored.

Even the music was no longer the jazz I loved, but some trendy pop album that matched Anaya's age.

It was clear he had meticulously scrubbed every trace of me from this space, from his life.

I turned my head away, blinking back the hot tears that burned my eyes.

When the car stopped in front of my SoHo apartment building, Edwin smiled at Anaya.

"Wait for me in the car, honey. I'll be right down."

I ignored them and marched toward the building entrance.

Edwin followed me in silence.

When we reached my door, he finally spoke.

His tone was filled with an infuriating, self-righteous helplessness.