Chapter 9
Helen's POV
The alarm on my phone pulled me awake at 4:45 a.m.
I reached across the bed instinctively, seeking Julian’s familiar warmth, but my hand met only cold, empty sheets. I frowned, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
The spot where my husband should have been was untouched. No dent in the pillow, no discarded pajama pants on the floor.
“Julian?” I called softly into the dark master bedroom. No answer. He must have gone for one of his early morning jogs along the cliff path. He did that sometimes when he couldn’t sleep, said the ocean air cleared his head for the day’s investments.
I smiled a little, pushing down the tiny flicker of unease. It was fine. Normal.
I slipped out of bed, showered quickly, and dressed for the conference in a simple blouse and
