But I don’t know if I can.

“I miss him so much.”

“I know.” He grips the back of my head, pulling me closer. “He loved you.” A thick gulp travels down his throat. “Sebastian wouldn’t want you to suffer like this.”

Flinching at the mention of his name, I drown in waves of memories, from the fiery arguments to the passionate moments that now make my chest tighten. His voice drifts through my head with a vividness I hope never abandons me.

“Tell me you love me.”

“I love you.”

I’d responded without hesitation that day in the elevator, after Landon and Elise’s wedding, with my knees against the gritty floor. I can almost feel Sebastian behind me, holding me by the neck as he drove himself into my ass. The memory should launch me into a black hole of shame, but I’d never experienced such raw passion and desperation until then.

I’m terrified I won’t ever feel that way again.

He’s gone.

I shake my head, casting out the rebellious thought, but a sob bursts free anyway. Liam’s arms tighten around me, giving me the sanctuary I need right now, but as I lean into him, my heart breaks under the burden of betrayal. Another sob escapes, and I will the dam not to bust open.

“This is killing me,” he chokes out. “You don’t have to suffer alone. I’m here. You’ll always have my heart and soul.”

“I know.” I hold on to him with all that’s left of me.

I’m not sure how long we stand under the spray, but at some point, the water begins to cool, the hot stream giving way to icy drops that feel like pins and needles on my skin. Liam releases me, and then I’m standing outside the shower, tucked inside a soft towel as my feet sink into a plush bathmat.

He tugs on his slacks before grabbing the rest of his clothing. “Can I count on you to get ready for dinner?”

All I can do is nod, my throat too constricted.

“Good girl,” he says, pressing his lips to my forehead. “I’ll wait for you in the sitting room.”

3

Expensive cologne and pan-seared lamb fill my nostrils, making my stomach twist with unease. A thick cloud of tension hangs over the dining room, heavy with anger and grief, a jarring contrast to the opulent chandelier, china, and formal wear.

Then there’s the sheer number of men crowded around the circular table. Some didn’t appreciate our late arrival—especially Sebastian’s father, whose palpable anger struck the instant Liam and I sat down.