via

ntly of antiseptic and despair. The only sound was the steady, rhythmic bee

ands were shaking violently, but I forced my finge

line connected, the word f

hen, hearing the tremble in my breath, it s

ish the sentence. A sob choked me

med. It wasn't just a mother's voice anymore; it was the voi

old

in; she swept in, sucking the oxygen out of the room. She was weari

her shoulder, smelling her familiar perfume-Chanel No. 5 and steel-and finally

e house, Mom," I chok

tors just sent me the file. I should have intervened sooner. I respected your wish to marry

her hands. Her eyes were hard as diamo

n his world down, Ol

a fresh wave of tears.

her phone and dialed a number,

her tone conversational yet deadly. "Pull the funding. Cancel the lines of credit. Call the

t me. "You're coming hom

amptons where I grew up. It was a fortre

bathroom," I said

a heavy chain. As I passed the slightly open door

ch

g myself against the wall, my hospita

s a scheduling conflict. "No, I haven't seen her yet. Look, Serena, calm down. Olivia is soft. She's

t was hammering against m

o a conspiratorial murmur. "I'll play the repentant husband for a bit. Once the company goes publi

low, confident sound,

he actually thinks I care

e door handle to keep from fal

onster. He had never loved me. I was

aby kicked, a strong, defiant thu

nce the shower, I did

cold. I

steps steady. My mother was w

r him?" she

placed my hand over my

r that had been there minutes ago. "I don't

ed. It was a t

's my