r spot beneath the portico, cut the engine, and just sat there. She couldn't bring herself

word didn't

ases, a nervous smile, and that naive hope you have when you really believe things will

she came

ed out of the car

ver the foyer. Lucian's favorite painting hung right beside the stairs, exactly where it alwa

atch box-still on the dresser. Litt

years orbiting ar

the mantel, sat a photograph from their third anniversary. Luc

rs in her bag. How could a photo look so full o

was always her favorite-Lucian looking at her, not the camera. She used to tease him about

was a lie, but because she wasn't s

ks were still by the bed. Favorite cufflinks, right there in the drawer. Nothing out of

g ring. She stared at it, weighing it in her palm, unable

nocked at

was home. A second knock. She wiped a tear fro

the door, her wh

but now in a perfect cream suit, her hair impeccable, her face c

the doorway. "What

t her into the hous

ned around the

p some of

ughed. "You came he

gaze. "Our hous

uth turned col

almost bored, smile. "

ed forward. "Th

fter but sharper, too.

g. Deli

hed the door

. "I don't think you

a cut her off. "You're s

much as blink. "H

sn't done." It

the folder on the table

ch twisted. "Luci

d. "He doesn't have t

queezed Serap

filling the doorway. "You sh

tared her d

staying here af

osted. "Then he can

soft, mocking thing

er chest, but she forced herself to

me collect his

more curious this time. "Yo

yes narrowed.

ke Seraphina suspicious. Then, "Lucian

move. She fought to keep it

ith his parents

choked. "La

eased. "His mother knows a

and curled ag

nd Lucian?"

dded. "They

other fussing over his long work hours. His father asking whether Seraphina had ever thought about joining th

Seraphin

ching her face. "Before

hudded. "You met th

es

w l

oo long to be comf

na just

hoed inside

trips, missed dinners, his tired excuses. While Seraphina

arms. "I didn't co

look. "Then you've got a

ian thought it'd ma

her fo

." Vivienne d

ed, bitter. "Ev

"You need to accept that

t they cut worse

then at the house, then at tha

ght, not last week. Maybe he'd been

nd pulled out an envelope. "I

dn't move. "

nvita

wh

"The Cross family's winter

w furrowed. "Wh

nt to see it." Viv

he Cross Foundation Annual Winter Gala. She looked at the

ests.

tunned. "Why is

ost gentle-as if she pitied her. "Lucian's

couldn't f

raphina, you need to kn

steady herself. "Wh

r voice. "Lucian's

dn't cooled, and Vivienne was already w

thinking she belonged. Now she saw-the Cross

stopped her. "If you're so sure about Lucian,

t second, something unsure flashed ac

eared out." She added, "A

for the car, but Vivienne p

g was different in her eyes-not mocki

an's father was so int

d. "What are you

at her. "Ask Lucian why his father wante

"What does his father hav

. "Maybe that's the question you shoul

her word, Vi

She looked toward the stairs, at the wedding photograp

believed Lucian ch

tening thou

s father had pi

cian was just going along