***TRICIA***“It’s been three days since Blake left, no words from him till now,” I complained to Ryker, burying my face in the palms of my hands. “I still can’t fathom how I didn’t see this part of him before marrying him.”

He sat quietly in the chair opposite me — silent, but the warmth in his eyes told me he understood. That alone gave me a bit of comfort. Then he muttered,

“You have to endure. I’ll try and talk to him.”

His words came out cold, but I understood — ...