David let out a harsh, bitter laugh, running a trembling hand through his hair. "Must be nice. Walking away with a clean slate."
"My slate isn't clean, David," Simon corrected firmly. "I am spending every single day doing the agonizing work to rebuild my wife's trust. But I'm doing it outside of this building."
David stared at the marble floor, the corporate bravado completely shattered. "When I fired Emily that Saturday... she completely lost her mind. She threatened to expose everything. She told me if she was going down, she was taking me with her."
Simon’s expression didn't shift. "And?"
"And she didn't have to," David choked out, a raw, devastated edge to his voice. "Because you were right. I realized I was trapped. I went home that night and confessed everything to Evangeline before Emily could get to her. The affair in Chicago. The promotions. The lies."
Simon felt a heavy, sickening pull of empathy, knowing exactly what the inside of that particular hell felt like. "Where is Evangeline now?"
"She packed a bag and took the kids to her sister's house," David whispered, a tear slipping free to track down his pale cheek. "She hired a shark of a divorce attorney on Monday. She won't even look at me, Simon. She's taking the house. She's taking everything. My life is completely over."
Simon looked at the man who had been his closest colleague, his enabler, his partner in crime. David was standing exactly where Simon had stood months ago—standing in the smoldering wreckage of a bomb he had built with his own two hands.
"It's going to be a long, agonizing road, David," Simon said gently, but with absolute, unyielding honesty. "You broke her reality. You don't get to dictate how she responds or if she ever forgives you. All you can do now is take complete accountability and stop lying."
David nodded slowly, looking entirely defeated. "Yeah. I know."
"Good luck, David," Simon said.
He didn't offer a handshake. He turned around and walked through the heavy revolving doors, stepping out onto the bustling downtown sidewalk.
The crisp, bright air hit his lungs, and for the first time in over a year, Simon took a breath that wasn't restricted by guilt, panic, or secrets. He was a free man. Emily was a ghost, David was a cautionary tale of the path he had barely escaped, and Lumière was officially in his rearview mirror.
Simon pulled his phone out of his pocket. He didn't check his emails or the stock market. He opened his messages and typed out a quick text.
Just left the lawyer's office. The paperwork is signed. I'm officially unemployed, and the past is permanently sealed. I'm coming home.
A few seconds later, his screen lit up with Audrey's reply.
Hurry up. I'm working from home today, and I suddenly have a very open schedule.
A slow, brilliant smile broke across Simon’s face. He slid the phone back into his pocket and started walking toward his car, stepping out of the shadows and fully into the light of his new life.
Epilogue
One year later
Audrey
The crackle of the fireplace was the only sound in the dark, wood-paneled bedroom of the Vermont cabin. Outside, a heavy winter snow was quietly blanketing the mountains, but inside, the air was thick, suffocatingly warm, and heavy with a desperate, beautiful tension.
Audrey lay back against the plush, white pillows, her head thrown back, her fingers tangled frantically in the heavy quilt beneath her.
Simon was between her thighs, his hands firmly gripping her hips to hold her perfectly still. He was devastatingly thorough, his mouth hot and relentless, his tongue mapping her with a desperate, worshipping focus that sent liquid fire straight through her veins. He knew exactly what she needed, exactly how to unravel her, and he took a dark, primal pride in taking his time.
"Simon," Audrey gasped, the sound fracturing in the quiet room. Her hips arched off the mattress involuntarily. "Please..."
He didn't stop. He only pressed his mouth firmer against her center, his thumbs pressing into her hips, demanding she completely surrender to him. Audrey let out a high, breathless sob as the tension finally snapped, her vision going white at the edges as she shattered beautifully beneath his touch. She trembled violently, the overwhelming waves of release pulling her under.
Simon waited until the very last tremor left her body before he finally shifted. He moved up the length of the bed, the mattress shifting under his weight. He hovered over her in the dim firelight, his dark eyes entirely blown, his chest heaving. He leaned down and captured her mouth in a deep, wet kiss, sharing the taste of her release, entirely unbothered and wholly devoted.
Audrey hummed into his mouth, her hands sliding up his muscular arms.
Simon pulled back just an inch, his eyes soft and incredibly tender. "Turn over for me, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice a rough, dark rasp.
With slow, careful movements, Simon gently guided her onto her side, facing the fire. He immediately shifted behind her, aligning his chest completely flush with her back. And then, his large, warm hand slid down the side of her waist, wrapping around to spread wide over the massive, hard curve of her pregnant belly.
