"Mmph..."


    Caught off guard, Hannah couldn''t fight back, her hands gripping the edge of the vanity for support. His kiss was masterful, a dizzying assault on her senses that threatened to unravel herpletely. He knew every one of her weak spots, expertly guiding her to the brink of surrender until her legs felt like jelly.


    It was only when he felt her breath grow ragged that Lionel finally pulled away.


    Hannah gasped for air, her eyesnding on the faint smear of red lipstick on his lips. The realization that he was about to go meet Sandra, yet had just kissed her with such passion, sent a wave of nausea through her.


    She shoved him away with all her might and ran for the bathroom, covering her mouth.


    Her reaction clearly angered him, but just then, his phone rang with a distinctive ringtone.


    Ignoring it, Lionel followed her to the bathroom and tried the door, only to find it locked from the inside.


    "Open the door."


    Hannah dry-heaved over the toilet, though nothing came up. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door just a crack.


    "If you don''t go now, she''ll be upset," she said, her knuckles white as she clung to the doorknob.


    They stared at each other through the narrow opening, the silence broken only by the incessant ringing of his phone. It stopped, then started again, a relentless summons. Hannah slowly closed the door and locked it. When she opened it again a momentter, Lionel was gone.


    Just to be sure, she peeked into the hallway. Seeing it empty, she let out a long sigh of relief and went back into the room. She touched her swollen lips, btedly cursing her own weakness.


    Her phone buzzed on the table, making her jump. It was a text from Lionel.


    Lionel: [Wait for me.]


    The words on the screen red at her. She tossed the phone aside without replying and went back to her work.


    Around eleven, she took a shower and emerged, scrolling through Facebook while drying her hair. That''s when she saw Sandra''stest post.


    [I said I wanted to see the stars, and he said, ''I''ll take you.'']


    The post included three photos. The first was a selfie of Sandra in a passenger seat, with just a hint of Lionel''s shoulder visible. The second was a breathtaking shot of a


    star filled sky. The third showed her leaning happily against a man''s shoulder.


    Thements section was exploding.


    [Is that Mr. Rosenberg?! What''s going on with you two?]


    [Should we be expecting a wedding invitation soon? My gift is ready!]


    [OMG, I''m so jealous! Love and a great career!]


    [You two look so happy!]


    Hannah saw that Sandra had replied to the firstment with a shushing emoji, a pathetic attempt at being coy that made Hannah''s stomach turn.


    Seeing these photos should have made her happy. The closer they got, the greater her chances of divorcing Lionel But instead, she just felt a dull ache in her temples. It was doubtful he''d eveneback tonight, yet he had the nerve to tell her to wait for him.


    Wait for what? To smell another woman''s perfume on him? To hear stories about their romantic stargazing trip?


    Hannah stared at the screen for a moment, then liked the post, set her phone down, and went to bed.


    Sandra smiled when she saw the notification that Hannah had liked her post.


    So what if she was his wife? So what if he flew all the way from Sova


    for her? One phone call from Sandra, and he dropped everything totake her stargazing.


    Lionel nced at his watch. "It''s gettingte. I should take you home."


    Sandra looked up at him.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    "We''re leaving already?" she asked, feigning surprise. She had just posted on


    Facebook. If they left now, what would Hannah think?