pte

orning cam

nd on her finger. It caught the light and threw r

ne buzz

utiful. Can't wait

When she said yes to a ring that felt like a chain. When s

it to see

came eas

Hair styled perfect. Suit tailored. Smile bright

aid, kissing her cheek

ust a lo

d her hand to admire the ring.

Eleanor pi

utiful,"

a quiet spot. They sat while joggers r

want to talk about," No

omach

t packed up one day and disappea

hy

bitter. "Free from the family. Free from everythi

like the ring

petition. He would break rules just because they existed. I followed them because

same golden cage. One r

ike?" she hear

rywhere. Father used to pay people off to keep his name out

g about a stranger. Someone different from

was the note. The one she carried eve

Don't let them make you

photography. Even as a kid, he could see things the rest of us missed. I

did he c

He never answered. Then suddenly last week

en she slipped her

m," Noah said. "Landon can be very persuasive. He makes people think they nee

Is that wh

. Promise me you'll

ding up and walking away from Noah and

its were ha

" she heard

em script my life, she

one rang.

face changed. "Yes, of

ht. Mother wants to celebrate ou

l be there,

uld go wrong,

*

front of her mirror. Black dress.

es early. Noah was still at the office. She was

stepp

both

ns and black t-shirt. Hair messy like

uti

said. His voi

" she w

hen he brushed past her without an

contact sent electricity throu

erous looking. He threw his leg over and started

ay without

t left her feel

"Sienna, darling. You're

passed ea

back soon.

assive. Crystal glasses. Fine

chard Callahan seemed different tonight. C

said. "He's staying here at the house now. I

announced Landon's return.

appened. White button down, sle

eal. Danger

ng Noah

ate. Traffic

w," Eleanor bea

the head. Sienna to his right.

n't escap

was served. Soup

. "Five years is a long ti

, it

ou're back

ll s

t really a

only answe

hifted uncomfortably. Eleanor

ness," Noah said sudde

l en

cover last mont

nk y

said you h

voice was sharp. "That I had talent? Or

" Eleano

ght. "He has a right to be angry.

You told Father I was throwing my life away.

g," Noah sa

You

ved. Fish. Sienna push

said. "Have you and

ill discu

spring. Ap

ds perfect,"

r asked. "Don't you think spring

na's. Something raw fl

at the season doesn't matter. What matters is whether

slipped fr

ed. Lipstick rolli

the

e sudden silence, every fork s

the polished marble

n her throat. She couldn

t the paper. For one

nt and pic

olded it. Caref

s he read the words he

Don't let them make you

from his face. H

met acros

bered ev

s er

hair scraped. Noah's face w

t?" Noah demanded, re

away. His eyes lock

andon said.

his fist. The sound ec

id, standing so fast her cha

ed against the marble flo

old. She leaned against a ston

k

r opened. Hea

need to t

enn

ice wa

stomach dropped at hi

to talk,"

eart

ut w

whatever you've convin

e a slap. "What I

ookup." He said it casually but

o her palms. "You

e shrugged but his shoulders wer

re ly

all." His voice was empty but there w

s. Clenched at his s

t belie

hone and scrolled. His thumb moved too fast.

by. Blonde hair. Br

ch turned

wanted, right?" But his

you doi

ng w

g so

thing raw flashed acros

n it wa

nest." But he woul

hat night. You

rked as he sw

ou ca

e good sex wi

watching his face. The muscle jumping in his jaw.

ide her. Certainty cu

scared,"

apped to he

at this is. You're pushing m

w what you're

took a step back. "You remembered me. You

e delu

eye and tell me that

h. Closed it. His

ook at me and tell me y

g," he said. But he wa

ia

s voice brok

red. "I carried it everywhere.

s your m

ser. "Because I think y

re wr

re your han

nds in his pocke

t you loo

everything fell away. She saw the want. The p

e ice w

said quietly. "Fine. Yo

signed to hurt.

nto fists in his pockets. Sa

e said. "And I don't thin

e called from inside.

s Landon's face bef

roughly. "Go

abou

gone soon

really f

ooked at her. And for just a mo

dy have,

e broke when

or opened. N

said. "I was worri

wiping her eyes. "J

Noah asked

aid. Steady agai

e Sienna's hand, she saw La

ok

like

k to the dining room and the

ough the door, she

Landon was wa

. About all of it. He remembered. He car

ir story was no