The silence in the Edward penthouse had become a malignant entity, pushing them further apart with every passing day. Larissa had spent three nights in the guest suite, and the lack of a familiar presence, the subtle scent of Jasper on the sheets, had begun to ache more than the initial betrayal. She wasn't just grieving her career setback; she was grieving the erosion of her marriage.
On the fourth night, Larissa was reading in the sparse guest bedroom when a gentle, almost timid knock sounded on the door. It was so unlike Jasper’s usual confident entry that it took her a moment to realize who it was.
She put her book down. “Come in.”
Jasper entered, looking defeated and utterly exhausted. He wore a simple white t-shirt and sweats, stripped of his CEO armor. He stood awkwardly in the d
