Chapter 81

• The quiet of Alexander’s penthouse was deceptive. To an outsider, it was serene—city lights glowing through the wide glass windows, the hum of traffic muffled into a distant rhythm. But to Danielle, the silence pressed heavy, suffocating her as she sat alone on the sofa.
• Her fingers twisted the hem of her blouse, restless, while her mind refused to settle. Alexander had returned late from his “meeting,” his shoulders taut, his expression carved from stone. He had said little, only brushed a kiss against Theo’s forehead before disappearing into his study.
• Danielle hadn’t asked. But she knew.