Page 82 of The Yoga Teacher

It’s a fucking offering. A blood sacrifice. One more piece of her that he had broken, that he now had to give back—whole, untouched, with interest.

This was the only thing he could do now. Not to win her back. Not to be thanked.

Even if she was moving to Denver, this asset was worth money. Money she deserved.

“She deserves a home,” Daniel said, jaw tight. “Even if it’s not with me.”

Rick gave a slow nod. “The cleanest way is a direct payment to the lender. Once it’s cleared, we’ll file a quitclaim deed transferring your interest. The house becomes hers. Entirely.”

Daniel exhaled, the air burning in his lungs. “Good. Do it.”

Rick adjusted his glasses. “We’ll want to loop in your divorce attorney—”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Just to keep things clean.”

Clean.

Nothing about this was clean.

Daniel leaned back, pressing his fingers hard against his brow like he could force the pressure back into place. His shoulders felt like they were holding up a house of their own.

He wasn’t sure what he was anymore. A man? A memory? A wound that still walked and talked?

But this—this act—felt like something. Like a brick in the right direction.

A punishment that fit the crime.

A confession in deed, if not in words.

If she wanted to sell it, burn it to the ground, erase every trace of him?

She could.

If she brought someone else home—

Some man who held her like she mattered andmeantit—

Who kissed her in the morning and never forgot the little things. Who touched her with care, not entitlement. Who didn’t waste years fumbling his way toward loving her right.

The thought sliced through Daniel like glass.

He thought he might actually throw up, right there on Rick’s sterile white carpet.

Her—beneath someone else.

Smiling up at him.

Moaning forhim.

Letting him in—into the parts of her Daniel had once sworn belonged only to him.

His throat closed. His eyes burned. His lungs forgot how to function.

He deserved this.

Hedeservedto choke on it.

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