Page 159 of The Wright Man

No running. No hiding. No stuttering over words or folding under his manipulative puppy-dog eyes. I'd done that dance for too long. The song was over.

I glanced at myself in the rearview mirror at a red light, suddenly unsure about the sweatshirt and leggings I'd thrown on in a haze. I wasn't trying to impress him—not even a little bit—but part of me wished I'd at least swiped on some concealer or put on a bra that didn't double as pajamas.

Still, I didn't look bad.

If anything, I looked... lighter.

The kind of glow that comes after a storm, when the world smells like rain and new beginnings.

I knew Maleek helped put it there.

I could still feel the imprint of his hands on my hips. Still feel the way he held me when I broke. Still taste his lips, those words in my ear... They rang like gospel in my head, making me feel strong and soft all at once.

I hated how right it felt. And I hated that I didn't hate it more.

The guilt hadn't left me. But it had shifted—evolved into something less sharp. Less damning. More like a weight I could finally carry without collapsing.

I checked the rearview mirror again, this time for cars behind me. For a while there, I'd been half-certain Maleek was going to follow me. The man knew how to track a target—he was a damn Marine. And now that he knew the full extent of what Gavin had done to me, I didn't doubt he was one wrong look from going full recon sniper.

A small, feral part of me found that sexy as hell. Another part—probably the adult part—knew I had to handle this myself.

I got myself into this marriage. I took the vows. I said yes. I looked Gavin in the eyes and promised forever. And now, I'd be the one to break it. Even if he was the one who broke it first.

I turned into the hotel parking lot and pulled into a spot near the back. Cut the engine. Let my hands rest on the steering wheel for a few beats before I moved.

The silence in the car now felt like armor instead of a cage.

No turning back now.

I stepped out of the car, letting the cool night air kiss my cheeks and wake me up fully. I looked up at the building—some overpriced boutique hotel Gavin picked for the aesthetic and the clout. I could already hear him describing it to Theo and Boyd over whiskeys with words he didn't know the definition of.

I took one more breath. Centered myself.

I was going to tell him I was done.

And this time, I wouldn't flinch when I said it.

The lobby was exactly the kind of sleek, overpriced aesthetic Gavin always fawned over—soft jazz playing over invisible speakers, dramatic lighting fixtures that looked more like modern art than illumination, and a signature scent in the air that tried too hard to smell like wealth. I stepped inside and was immediately greeted by a young woman at the front desk, all smiles and polished customer service warmth.

"Welcome in! Checking in with us tonight?"

I smiled back. Tight. Pleasant. The kind of smile that hid everything. I slipped into the role like it was a coat I hadn't worn in a while.

"Hi. My husband's staying here for work," I said, sweet and chipper. "I'm surprising him."

The words felt sticky and sour in my mouth. Like biting into a piece of fruit that looked perfect from the outside, only to find it rotted underneath.

The woman's smile didn't falter—yet—but her brows lifted just enough to register mild confusion. "Okay... do you have the reservation name?"

"Gavin Riddle," I said, already pulling my phone out of my pocket. "I have the confirmation right here."

I held up the email like a badge, heart pounding harder than I wanted to admit. It wasn't lost on me how this looked. A barefaced woman in a hoodie and leggings showing up unannounced to a sleek hotel with no luggage, claiming to be someone's wife. A familiar panic tried to bubble up beneath my skin, but I forced another smile, that slightly-too-high nervous laugh I always used when I was trying to put people at ease.

"I promise, I'm not just a crazy person trying to sneak into your hotel."

The woman gave me a tight-lipped chuckle in return, but I could see the suspicion behind it. Her eyes flicked from me to the screen, then back again.

"Okay, I see the reservation... But since your name's not listed on it, I can't give you a key. You'll have to come back down with him if you need one."