“Rosemary, wait!”

Adrian’s hoarse voice broke through the night as he jogged after her, just outside the boutique. Rosemary turned her head briefly, her face cold and unreadable, then walked on as if he wasn’t there.

“Rose… please, just listen to me for a moment,” Adrian pleaded, breathless.

She stopped and faced him with a piercing glare. “I’ve heard more than enough from you, Adrian. Every word out of your mouth only makes me sicker.”

Adrian swallowed hard, pain tightening his chest. “I know I was wrong. I won’t deny it anymore. But please—let me prove this time is different. I didn’t come to accuse or to judge… only to...