Riven Bonds. Vol. II. / A Novel, in Two Volumes

The narrative follows an estranged married couple whose uneasy reunion at a coastal villa exposes lingering misgivings and shifting loyalties. The wife maintains a cool reserve while a persistent suitor reappears, prompting jealousy and self-recrimination in the husband, who is also drawn into a distracting liaison with a charismatic actress. Social gatherings, mistaken assumptions, and the contrast between public appearances and private remorse drive tensions toward possible reconciliation or permanent separation. Scenes alternate between intimate conversations and the polished leisure of the villa, exploring pride, regret, and the difficulty of overcoming past breaches.