ess rather than to comfort. Seraphina didn't turn on the lights. The

r dresses Harrison insisted she wear-dresses that were always a size too small, as if h

t her performance case; it was a storage relic she had brought from

elvet was worn. She didn't reach for the instrument. Instead,

ort, and a burner phone she had bought six months ago d

phone and dialed a

a

ggy, then instantly alert. "Did he forget

ce steady, void of tears. "The draft you wrote

arp intake of breath. "I didn't burn it. I kep

the secure a

y? Do you need me

d to do t

the bedroom ceiling, sli

through the night air outside. The grav

phina whispered

cket. She pushed the violin case back into the dept

asured, confident strides of the businessman she married, but the slightly

om door s

way. He was loosening his tie, his si

t hit her.

l, and unmistakable. It clung to his suit jacket li

and bitter. She swallowed it down. She wouldn'

annoyed. He didn't look at her; he walked straight toward

he smoothed the front

ed to

, hand on the frame. "Not tonight, Seraphina. I'm

no investor

narrowing. In the moonlight, his handsome

were. I know wh

ding sound. He took a step toward her, closing the distance until he was l

You've been paranoid lately. Is this about the baby thing again? B

g the lie he had manufactured-the lie that sh

he words were quiet, but they

e reached out and grabbed her chin. His grip wasn't painf

word like it was a dirty j

e

ook around you. The Sterling family is bankrupt. Your father left you n

r, his breath h

hing. No money. No connections. No

es she used to think held the sta

r face away f

othing than be

had been pricked. He turned his back to her, dismissing

discuss your 'tantrum' in th

room and slammed the do

e walked to the closet, pulled out a small over