The penthouse was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, the city skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling windows painted in hues of orange and gold. Ava stood in the living room, her fingers tracing the delicate brushstrokes of the newly acquired painting. The masterpiece now hung above the fireplace, a silent testament to Liam’s power—and his ability to give her the one thing she had always coveted.
The front door clicked open, and Ava turned as Liam stepped inside, his presence filling the room like a storm front. His suit was slightly rumpled, his tie loosened, and there was a tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there that morning. He didn’t look at her as he tossed his keys onto the console table, his jaw set in a hard line.
Ava set down her wineglass, her voice careful. “Ro
