Home 09:00 Alex stood in the hallway, glimpsing the familiar contours of their home through the half-open door. The soft click of the lock was a promise of safety he hadn’t felt in days. Weeks, months. His heart thudded under his ribs as he carried his overnight bag, heavy with the unsaid, the unspoken, the ache he could feel in his bones. He paused, inhaling the scent of cedar that clung to the air. This was their sanctu...

The hotel lounge was full but quiet, softened by the hush of low jazz and the warm lull of intimate conversation. Leather armchairs curled around small tables, inviting confidences. The lighting was low and golden, designed to flatter, to beckon. Waiters moved soundlessly in black waistcoats, gliding with drinks and delicate plates, their presence part of the room’s elegant character. Alex arrived first. He stood at the b...

Katherine ran her fingers along the silk lining of the dress before slipping it from the hanger. Deep garnet—rich as aged wine. The colour wasn’t modest. It didn’t whisper. It declared. But the neckline, modestly cut, was the balance: seductive only to those with patience. She had chosen this dress deliberately. It had been a long time since she dressed like this for herself. The quiet of the bedroom wrapped around her. A...