Oliv

the next morning was he

a projector was still there, a cheap, plastic m

n't look at me. He strode straight to

bag,"

are we

e in the countryside," he corrected,

You're kick

with efficient, dismissive motions. "The tension is bad for Jayden's

re choos

th that manipulative tenderness I used to mistake

need space. You're stressed. The cou

his wife so he could play house with his w

," I

ised by my sudden

ll

to the Old House. I w

oking eggs. She was wearing an apron over her pa

ed, her voice sickeningly

wn behind me.

sked, smiling at him. "Just like I

c said. He sat d

e. Her fingers lingered on the knot, smoothing the silk against his c

ried you because he felt guilty. About the neurotoxin.

He didn't deny it. H

the loudest th

ifferent to the carnage. He stood up and kissed my forehead. It felt like a brand. "You h

rstand,

ked at me over the r

ngagement photo was on the mantle.

ame and dropped it

acked cash. I packed my medical records. I packed the fake ID I had

d bought me for the Gala. It was the co

he mirror. I looked lik

lk into that Gala o

s, leaving Cedric Moon with nothing but

teady, final rhyt

Two.

e t

time. The woman staring back wasn't the fragile rose Cedric though