her cheeks. She looked at the open car window, at the man inside, and felt nothi

head, a small,

f," she said, her voi

She expected him to call out, to insist. He didn't. She heard the s

ne. Just

ed out her phone, her fingers numb and clumsy. She didn't call a car to go

hl

st of energy, a stark contrast to the gray day and Claire'

elt foreign. Chloe slid into the seat opposite her, her vibrant red coat a slash of defiance again

d, her voice a low grow

ting details of the clinic. She just told Chloe abou

s jump. "Three years, Claire! Three years of this sham. You'

ontract, a business deal brokered by Claire's father

as strong, insistent. "Call the best divorce lawyer in this city. Take half of ever

their table. C

ulling her hands away. "

use of your father's dying wish? Professor Green wanted you t

couldn't explain the real reason, the one she kept bur

till protecting him?" Chloe presse

ad so carefully constructed. The truth s

e I lov

heard them from a stranger. It was the first time she had ever said it o

er's dusty, book-lined study. He had been a stranger then, a former student her father admired, a man

e anger drained from her face, repl

ered. "You fool. You b

shoulder, smelling the familiar scent of her perfume, Claire finally let a few silent tears fa

k but resolute. "I can't keep doing this. Maybe

d allowed herself to form th

l. We'll get you out. You can finally go back to your design

ode Island School of Design, a prodigy with a scholarship to

intrusive sound. It was her driver

," Chloe said, squeezing Claire's hand on

romi

, Claire sat alone in the quiet cafe. The seed Chloe had

ring over the search bar. Her heart po

reath, she ty

rce lawy