The gentle hum of birdsong and the soft rustling of tree leaves below did little to calm the tension that hung thick in the air. The afternoon sun cast long streaks of light across the marble balcony, and though the weather was perfectly mild, Dolores stood at the edge as if trying to distance herself from everything behind her—including her husband.
Her fingers clutched the ornate iron railing, knuckles pale against the dark metal. She didn’t look back when she heard the soft pad of leather shoes approaching. She knew it was Noah. She also knew he wouldn’t leave this conversation unspoken for long.
He stepped out, the glass door clicking shut behind him. His jaw was tight, but his voice was even. “Dolores.”
She didn’t respond. Her silence was sharp, cold.
Noah moved closer, hands in t
