Chapter 16: The Dress She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “One dress. And I’m paying you back.” “Whatever you say.” She left….

Chapter 17: The Negotiation They took a car to the Eiffel Tower. Navigated through crowds of tourists and lovers. Ascended in a private elevator to Jules Verne….

Chapter 18: The Kiss Martina turned to face him fully. In the golden light from the restaurant behind them, she looked ethereal. Untouchable. Already gone. “I don’t…

Chapter 19: The Confession Martina closed her eyes. Fresh tears streaming down her face. “Why now?” she asked brokenly. “Why couldn’t you have said this five years…

Chapter 20: The Forty-Eight Hours They stood there. Foreheads pressed together. Tears mixing. The Eiffel Tower glittering behind them like a benediction. Paris spread below them, indifferent…

Chapter 21: The Return The plane touched down at JFK at 6:47 on Sunday evening. Reality crashed over them like a wave designed to drown. Paris had…

Chapter 22: The Goodbye “I have meetings all day tomorrow,” Jordan said. Hating how the words sounded. Professional. Distant. Everything they’d moved beyond in Paris. “But I…

Chapter 23: The Resignation Monday morning arrived with rain. The cold, punishing kind that made Manhattan look gray and unforgiving. Jordan stood at his office window, watching…

Chapter 24: The Choice “That’s not fair—” “Maybe not,” she agreed. “But it’s true.” “And Jordan, I can’t build my future on maybe. I can’t risk my…