rd's

e a memory wr

clings to her curves like it was poured on. Tiny diamonds glint like constell

lue I used to know, only

sm

e. Distant

ce watch her fall asleep beside me, her lashes

it's

t. The way she dragged the little gir

here. In my bu

rs of silence, searchi

k in as if she

e. "Mr. Stone, the CEO of Eagle Homes was

nd. "Bring

tates. "Sir

ow

turns toward us with that same artificial smile,

again, like a

t g

irl is

wo

l might

is

uining her dress, and then charmed the hell out of me with storie

her. Ar

ex-

other woman who betrayed me

el s

... ho

a man walking into his own execution. T

esn't stammer. Doesn't

posed, collected and introd

illo. It's so nice

ches out

rve. Her ga

oom t

ooper, the woman I married, the woman who vanished, the woma

take h

ca

a match when you

her head just slightly, voice laced with

's

go

ery bow on her tiny shoe, humming to herself l

" I ask before I

witches. "She j

mach t

o

r y

ed for a divorce and she disappeared before sunrise, leaving nothi

wallow hard. "

a te

Barely n

I no

livious. "My daddy

st tig

harp look. "Daisy, w

isy shrugs, unfazed. "You said

es whiten arou

tch

os

by bit. Smile slipping

sit on that comfy chair over there? T

she's won a lot

p l

rints

me. "You didn't

d her di

ld've as

't tru

nd between u

o

feel s

ere for business, Mr. Ston

e well pa

s is going to be an

it

ice i

rousl

t listen,

d obey a command sh

u disappeared. No calls. No letters.

d for the

't have t

ng. "You expected me to stay for

ou didn't even te

ot your

my daug

t get to claim her just b

pt her

hrew m

t you wan

you to fig

into the roo

now. Staring. Bleed

ches her chocolate, unaware that

urns aw

ers. "No money. No family.

bl

ricts. "You cou

"After Eve... after everything... I didn't want your p

ask. "Why New York

ou were involved

idn't

n't wa

nesty

k, arms crossed. "Some fake nam

ets my

. De

d. Never r

art s

sl

I rebuilt myself from ashes. I became

meant to

you

le

a loud, "Mommy, he's nice. Can

aughter, softening.

p and cradles h

ice composed again. "Let's not pretend

uietly. "But that do

with

th

yes w

sli

urns

knob when I ask, "Are y

dy goe

d s

s into her

doesn'

en it comes, is s

ght, Mr

hey'r