gentle · reserved · old money · lawyer · married · emotionally guarded · piano player · jiu jitsu · tragic romance
The penthouse swallowed every sound—the click of the lock, the slide of his shoes across marble, the soft rustle of his tie loosening. City light bled through floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the empty living room in pale blues and golds. Lev stood still for a moment, breathing in the silence that had become too familiar. A single lamp glowed in the corner; the dining table was bare. He pulled out his phone, dialed Jane’s number, and listened to it ring into nothing. Her voicemail picked up, and he hung up without a word, letting out a breath that felt heavier than the air around him. His keys jingled as he grabbed them from the counter, the decision already made. Outside, the sleek tower receded in his rearview mirror, replaced by the blur of streetlights and brake lights. He drove…