ely breathe. Numbness was a blessing, like a thick blanket insulating her from the sharp edges of her

reful. "Today is your wedding anniversary. The chef has already prepared t

vers

enough and sincere enough could finally break the ice that stood between them. She had even imagined the look of surprise in his e

said, her own voice sounding distant and

umed she was simply unwell again, exhausted from yet another bout of illness. That explanation was easier for peop

lavish three-course dinner was laid out before her, the silverware gleaming ben

he call went stra

fectly prepared Beef Wellington congealed. The food went from warm, to lukewarm, to cold, mirroring perfectly the state of her h

ow rumble of a car engine f

tood and heard the front door open-but there was more tha

her bare feet against the cold marble floor, hiding in

gentle. "Careful, Isabelle. Watch the step." His voice was low and so

ce... it was like staring at a distorted reflection in a mirror. The same black hair, the same shape of the eyes, the

le, calculating smile appeared on Isabelle's lips as she leaned clo

isoned honey. "Is this my sister-in-law?

merely looked at Chloe, his expression calm and unreadable. "Isabelle

o discussion.

er. She forced her voice to remain even, as though a thin layer of ice had formed over rough seas. "Welcome home,

hten. A flicker of irritation crossed his face. "

h casual indifference, as though they were nothing mor

ace, but Julian silenced her with a sharp look. In this house, he was king. His word was

ought his true love home. The irony was

her. "Let's go upstairs. The air is cold here." He wrapped an arm around her protectively, a

of them in the same room

's shoulder, she looked directly at Chloe. She smiled. It was a tiny movement at the c

or the blind woman who was

could be salvaged anymore. She had once vaguely suspected that divorce might some

oe standing alone in the vast, silent foyer, surroun