Escape Betrayal, Find Love

Synopsis

The thermos felt warm against my palms as I hurried through the gleaming lobby of Aria, Seattle's most exclusive private karaoke lounge. My heels clicked against the marble floor, each step sending sharp pains through my abdomen. The menstrual cramps had been brutal today, but I'd pushed through them to perfect Ryan's favorite lobster bisque—a recipe that had taken me months to master. "Ms. Martinez, lovely to see you again," the hostess greeted me with a practiced smile. "Mr. Thompson is in the Sapphire Suite. Shall I announce you?" "No, thank you," I replied, adjusting my grip on the thermos. "I'd like to surprise him." As I navigated the dimly lit corridor lined with private rooms, I mentally rehearsed what I'd say. Ryan had been distant lately, canceling our dinner plans three times this week for "emergency meetings." I hoped this surprise visit would reignite the warmth that seemed to be fading between us. The pain in my abdomen twisted sharply, and I paused, leaning against the wall to catch my breath. After seven years together, four of them engaged, I'd given up everything for Ryan—my scholarship to Juilliard, my dreams of becoming a concert pianist—all to become the woman he wanted. The perfect hostess, the accomplished chef, the supportive partner who never complained,