s silent in a way t

peac

ca

tro

the moment she

marble hall like a warning. The space was enormous-high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, polis

etely unw

aid politely, avoiding her eyes. "Dinner is ser

. Not

brought. Everything else-her clothes, her books, the little pieces of

forward. Middle-aged, impeccably d

" she said coolly. "I

toe, lingering just a second too lon

is

with abstract paintings Aria didn't reco

" Mrs. Hargreave

fli

es

ormally in public," she continued

rse he

ff?" Aria as

of a wide staircase and turned.

Blackwood," she said. "Respect i

the unspoken m

't belo

Mrs. Hargreaves opened a door

is you

ed inside-

ed bed dressed in pristine white. Everything looked untouched, lik

nice," Aria

eaves replied. "Mr. Blackwood'

caught for j

ate r

h something else

tomorrow," Mrs. Hargreaves continued. "If you need

d left withou

r click

ne in the cent

was

s her l

looked the same, but she felt different-smaller somehow,

knock s

ffened.

es downcast. "I'm Lily. I w

g to unpack," A

ed. "If you need anything

ria said softl

ft, the sile

the bed and stare

house was the ma

who ha

s exactly

r had once said made her look calm, even when she wasn't. She smoothed h

mal. A table that could seat twe

dow, his back to her, his

. "I don't care how l

the call

nded on her

or a s

ssed his face before his

id, pulling

obe

. Course after course appear

to eat, even though

en arranged," Julian said sudde

d up. "Th

he replied. "It's pa

id quietly. "Sti

w tigh

Julian said. "It

no

ng more than

lian stood. "You'll attend the c

nked. "A

es

don

continued coolly. "You'll smile. You'll sta

ke a mistake

rs, dark and co

ned to

aid before she c

pau

hy did you really

back at

s are too easy. I wanted you to

ened. "You don'

nough," h

he

sleep refu

ar sounds settling around her like

e heard footsteps

pau

art po

ld her

t, the footst

haled

garden, desperate for air. The grounds were vast, mani

he chill biting throu

e up e

tu

, dressed in workout clothes

sleep," sh

d to it,

ence, the space b

hate me so loudly,"

aze snappe

oud?" he asked coldl

held his gaze. "One day, y

ss smile. "And one day," he said, "yo

behind words that wrapped

er he was gone, the morni

this marriage pr

hadn't

hurt to be hated by the