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Chapter 684:

He was simply a man who had been used. A man who had been so desperate to believe himself honorable that he had allowed a liar to convince him of his own monstrosity.

He stood. Walked to the window. Looked out at the dark ocean and felt, for the first time in months, something other than despair.

Rage. Pure, crystalline, absolute rage.

Not at Alycia—she was beneath his rage now, a creature so pathetic, so desperate, that anger felt like a waste of energy.

At himself. At his own blindness, his own need, his own willingness to believe the worst of himself because it was easier than facing the truth.

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He had destroyed his marriage because of this woman. He had destroyed his relationship with June, the only person who had ever seen him clearly, because he had been so desperate to protect a lie.

And now the lie was exposed. The truth was known. And he was left with nothing but the wreckage of his own making—the ruins of a life he had sabotaged in the name of an honor that had never existed.

The Apex Bio building glowed against the evening sky, its glass facade reflecting the last light of sunset in shades of amber and rose.

June stood at the curb, her bag slung over her shoulder, and felt the day’s tension finally begin to loosen in her shoulders. The Gen-2 trials were proceeding perfectly. The team was cohesive, focused, finally working together without the friction of suspicion and fear that had plagued them for months.

And tonight—tonight she was going home to a man who would feed her, who would listen to her, who would ask nothing in return but her presence.

The Aston Martin purred to a stop in front of her, sleek and black and unmistakable. Easton emerged from the driver’s side, his movements economical and graceful, and opened the passenger door with a gesture that was half gallant, half mocking.

“Dr. Erickson,” he said. “Your chariot awaits p>

June slid into the seat, inhaling the familiar scent of leather and cedar and something subtler, something that was simply Easton. The car was warm, the seat adjusted to her preference, the GPS already glowing with the route to his apartment.

“You didn’t have to come,” she said, though she was glad he had.

“I know.” Easton settled behind the wheel, his hands finding the gear with unconscious precision. “I wanted to. I wanted to see your face when I told you p>

“Told me what p>

He glanced at her, his gray eyes catching the last light of sunset. “The U.S. Attorney is convening a federal grand jury. Indictments are imminent—possibly as early as next week. Federal arrest warrants have been issued for Richard and Martha. They’ll be in custody by morning. And Alycia—” he paused, his expression shifting, “—Alycia’s facing charges for medical fraud, extortion, and attempted blackmail. The federal sentencing guidelines are brutal. She’ll be lucky to see daylight before she’s seventy p>