I sit up straight. “What do I do Gabe? I’m crushed he’s gone to Celia tonight. That he might...” I can’t even complete the sentence. My heart stutters painfully in my chest.

Gabe’s expression softens. “Just continue being who you are around him. He may not remember you, but I’m certain that his heart does. Tonight, the things he remembered, all of it is too much to be a coincidence, Aaliya. Have faith in him.  You’re a beautiful woman. Use everything in your arsenal to get him back.”

I contemplate his words as I enter my apartment. At night, when I lay alone in my empty bed, I pray to all the Gods I worship that Celia doesn’t succeed in seducing my husband because even though I’m resolved to get him back at all costs, even though I know he doesn’t remember me, I’m not sure my heart will survive knowing he slept with her. I don’t know if our marriage will ever recover from that horrible knowledge.

Damien

CELIA OPENS THE DOOR as soon as I ring the bell of her town house. I run my eyes over her and let out the breath I’d been holding. Thank God, she hasn’t harmed herself. She’s dressed in a night robe that is belted loosely around her waist and a wine glass dangles from her fingers. Her hair is undone, messily falling over one shoulder and her face is flushed.

“Damien,” she rasps, the wine glass tipping from her hand as she leans towards me.

I steady her hand and close the door behind me. Mike glares at me as the door shuts on his face. It was a tremendous task to convince Mike to remain in the car while I speak to her. He gave me a hard time but, in the end, I refused to budge. I wanted to talk to Celia alone and console her out of her suicidal thoughts and I wasn’t sure if she would have been amenable to listen had Mike been standing like a sentry by my side.

Celia steps closer to me. “You came for me.”

She links her arm in mine and guides me to a parlor. The crackling fire burning in the fireplace provides the only light in the room. My foot bumps against an empty bottle of wine on the floor and it rolls away. A half empty bottle is on the table in front of the sofa.

“Where’s all your staff?” I ask her, looking around.

She waves her hand in dismissal. “Oh, I let them go for the night. I wanted to be alone.”

A warning bell clangs inside my head. “Celia, why are you...”

She cuts me off. “Thank you for coming. I just wanted to talk to someone and I wasn’t sure if anyone else would understand. Please take a seat.”