ssed by a cold, righteous fury. He saw my attachments not as part of my

rom the walls, my fashion books from the shelv

took the small, framed photo of

motion. He smashed the frame against the mantelpiece

ivate thoughts, my dreams, my grief. He fli

ental n

the fire. I watched

e a dead whisper. "All this time, did yo

struction. The silence was his confession. He knew. H

e one thing I thoug

he ordered. "We

ts' ashes rested in a small, bronze urn. It was my last physical

t he was g

knees in fron

, tears streaming down my face

rble, trying to shield

one by one. His strength

go, K

e breaking. "I'll do whatever you

something in his eyes, a shadow of the man I thought I loved.

anded it to the facility attendant w

em," Cedric

y body convulsing with

ce as sterile as the marble around us. "These

g orders, took the urn

t. I scrambled forward, trying to catch the dust, the las

closed on

ld went

a tray of food on his lap. It was the familiar ro

" he

d my he

te of impatience in his voice. "I did what w

ed an IV into my arm, pumping nutrients directl

amily dinner. His mother, Caroline, a formidable w

said, her voice sharp. "When are

d answer, Ced

ing children,"

s rose. "Don't be ridiculous, Cedri

the perfect excuse, the one he always used. "A

tecting me. He was protecting Fallon's heart. He didn't want a Burk

ter smile to

ne rang. A crisis at his company i

one, Caroline's col

me," she

, starkly furnished s

eel. "Tell me the truth. Is it you

e family that had systematically destroyed me. For the first

e quiet but clear. "I

darkened

e now. You will

r straight

N

e to myself. I was leaving. Soon. They