Chapter 47 He Fell Asleep Holding Me

• His words weren’t meant for me. They never were. In all our years of marriage, Darius had never fallen asleep holding me. And a “goodnight kiss”? That had never existed between us. The warmth of his arms around me last night had only been a mistake, he’d thought I was Emma.
• A sharp ache spread through my chest, and I pressed my lips together to hold back the sting in my eyes. He was still asleep, his face calm, almost peaceful. The same face that once could melt my world… but now only hollowed me out.
• I took a quiet breath and gently peeled his arm away from my waist. We were so close that every movement made my heart hammer. But even when I tried to move softly, he stirred. His fingers tightened briefly before his eyes opened. Our gazes locked. For one fleeting second, confusion flashed in his eyes—then realized. He knew. He wasn’t holding her.