o

of the Maybach's V12 engine flared to

y, wringing her hands in her apron. "Mrs. Hollo

se near the closet. It looked like a foreign object, an intr

ut

lalie sa

Eulalie stood up, gasping. She needed to get out. She could

ator, taking the service stairs down all thirty floors. Her l

autopilot toward the Upper East Side's restaurant row. She found herself standing across t

favorite plac

tree, pulling her collar up. Through the glass, the resta

ere th

The bes

wearing a dress the color of fresh blood, sequins catching the candlelight. She threw her head

them, a little q

held it out to Elara. Elara opened her mouth wide, accepting it greedily,

icture. A mother,

other was th

cket. A notification. Adalynn Pe

e screen. She tapped the colorful ri

s perspective at the table. The camera focu

n's voice purred from the phone

! Auntie Adalynn is a million times better than Mommy. Mo

ne, looking at them with a relaxed, indulgent smir

ideo

e phone. The world

e

stayed up holding Elara's hand through fevers while Caden was "at a conference." She tho

hat was oppression. Adalynn's

e bone. She felt nauseous. She turned away from the window

!" the ma

. She ran until her lungs burned, fleein

She walked straight into Caden's study. The smell of his

ng. Her fingers dialed the combination. 10-14-05. Her birthday.

tasted l

de, stacked beneath deeds and bonds, wa

ssed their anniversary to go to Adalynn's yacht party. She had ne

clicked on the brass reading lamp. Th

graph 4, Clause B. Joint custody request

ountain pen. The ink

voice. "A million tim

army of lawyers, she would lose. And even if she won, Elara would hate her.

aper. A tear finally escaped, hot

rp, black line throu

t for alimony. She slashed thr

leaving them to each other. It w

at blinked and beeped-gifts from Caden. In the corner, gathering dust,

obot she had bought for tonight. She walked to

Clang

tting the bottom e

om. Her phone buzzed again. A

y fav people! Hope you're

. She didn't type a reply. S

to powe

e dark glass stared back-eyes dry, jaw set.

-