lett

, it's

m my thoughts. Slowly, I opened m

fr

't the same Scarlett Taylor who w

dient wife with dull e

ek, shoulder-length cut that framed her face like a crown. Her lips were a bold shade of r

I didn't rec

time in years. I

d, touching the mirr

d. "You look powe

d. "Tha

un kissed my face as a warm breeze played with the ends of my new hair. I

i

ess

it withou

s a p

t skipp

ent. I squinted-

saw the

Confirmati

Amelia

Everett

ath it,

what if you

er lov

keeping his pl

arrying h

of dignity left, sign the

still. Cars passed. The bree

me, everyth

st tightened. My stomach churned-not with jealous

e a father. And i

as h

el

ams. The woman who vanished when things got hard. The woman w

she had e

he

atte

ch

my ribs. It crawled up my thr

allowed

ore

re be

etending I

for a long second, the

ngratul

it

lipped it into my purse, and

up. The driver leaned

ack seat, my voic

WS G

e window as the

ll one thing

*

Robins

ference room seemed to plu

e executives stiffened. A few lowered their eyes to the polished mahogany surface like schoolch

et them

lling taut across my shoulders. The fain

itated. N

rger or a market dip. I could handle

lor hadn't c

swered my calls. Or my texts

aken a single day off. Never been late. Never ignored me. She was reliable

w? Van

had gone cold. Not that I had touched it a

far end of the table. I shot them

at the hell

table, thumb hovering over her

ic

oor o

in the ro

o did

n step

yone, for distur

ice fr

rle

couldn't reconcil

he Scarlett T

blouses, hair tied back in a lazy ponyt

Sca

ike a silken waterfall. Her eyes-free of glasses-were striking

deep rose color that made h

h a deliberate elegance. She didn't walk. She strode. Confident. Purp

just her a

a had c

't hidin

twice her age and status,

d

n't loo

ys been soft and quiet, the perfect picture of composure and discipline. At the offic

his w

the Scarle

s someo

ed strai

hold warmth. Or tenderness. Or the quiet

old. Ind

est tightened, sha

e

could

e playing at?" I mut

room were nothing b

unhurried, unflinching. A

ed just a

lled out a crisp env

, voice calm and cool. "

, I thought

in the room

e. My hand stayed by my s

antrum is going to chan

s didn'

replied. Her voice was lik

eak, she reached

h

gainst my chest. The sou

ex, the weight almo

ut, scattering a

ce pa

tched. My pu

ed at me, chi

to send them," she said, "

he folder crum

d. "Ten, to match the ten times yo

osed. Words

omorrow, 8:30 AM. Civil Burea

she t

ion. No se

loor as she walked out, her hai

frozen long af

d

clenched, heart pou

time in year

as really

o idea how