e dining room, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The silence was

one Adam liked because it made her look soft and available. Instead, she wore dark jeans and

of lavender and disapproval. She inspected the breakfast sp

where were you last night? Leaving the gala early? It was incredibly rude. I had to t

he didn't apologize. She

lace setting. He took a sip, sighing as the caffeine hit his system. He didn't know that Jessye blended that coffee herself,

g to have a field day with your disappearance. Jean is already drafting a st

flat on the table. "Ther

ting together. "What is that supposed to mean? Are y

o her plate. She slid it across the polished wood. It spun

the tremor that usually accompanied their confrontation

ressively. "Oh, please. Not this again. Is this about the allowance? A

hand, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. "Divorce? Really, Jessye? You're goin

Adam. It's a leg

where the heavy-duty shredder sat-a fixture for his se

eech of metal on paper. Adam watched

Tantrum over. Now, I'm taking Josh to Karly's for dinner tonight. Pack his allergy

and reached for

er. "That was a copy," she said quietly. "My lawyers filed the originals wi

egan to crack, replaced by a flash of genuine irritation. "You have lawy

y," Jessye said. "P

scoffed. "You were a lab assistan

mother. "Read the email your gener

er the rim. He pulled out his phone, scrolli

?" He looked up, genuinely confuse

orrected. "I am invoking the 'clean break' clause. I walk away with

ntimidate. It used to work. Today, Jessye didn't even blink. "You think you can survive in

up. She was shorter than him, but i

dy to a jobless woman living in a studio apartment? I will b

his backpack slung over one shoulder. He stopped when he saw the tension, h

that terrified her. "Josh," she said, her voice softening. "Mommy

the anger on his father's face and the disdain

ked suspiciously.

essye admitted. "But

to be poor. She said you don't know how to have f

er than the shredder's blades. Her son, her flesh and bloo

y facade, the desperate need to please the dominant figures in the room. He w

e, though it felt like her face was crackin

led, grabbing a piece o

urned to Adam. "You

the kid knows you're useless. Get out, Jessye. Go play independe

carry-on size rimowa from her university days-was already by the door. It w

or screeched from the table. "Yo

t door. The hallway air smel

rn around. "You think I'm the one losing something today. But you'll fin

red, throwing a nap

r click

wood of the door. She took a deep breath, inhaling through her nose, exhali

n't look back at the penthouse door. She pressed the down button,