za

at clung to everything, but from the weight of unspoken lies. Every peeling pa

red, a faint wheezing sound barely audible over the hum of the old air conditioner. She was pale, her lips tin

like this. I had believed his empty promises, his tales of artistic integrity and financial struggle. I had allowed my daugh

is "artist's smock" (which was just an old, paint-stained shirt) hanging loosely on his frame. He

was having a special. Figured Cici needed a treat." He pulled out a white cardboard box. T

ldn't splurge, you know, with the gallery refusing my latest pieces aga

out from, just hours ago. The "special" was probably their standard, exorbitant price. My blood ran cold. He hadn't just bought it from th

ied. There was nothing left but a vast, empty wasteland i

mall nose twitched, and a faint smile touched he

went to her, brushing her hair back from her forehead with a tenderness

ghost. Not happy about the pizza? I know it's a bit much, but I just wanted to cheer Cici

ing this into the house, with Cecilia's asthma? Do you even remember what h

see her much, you know? Always working. Always in the studio. I just wanted t

ith your mistress in a Manhattan penthouse, Justin," I wanted t

nts deliberate. Without a word, I picked

's voice rose in protest. "That's go

the overflowing bin. The rich scent of truffles

u earned from your 'struggling artist' endeavors, Justin? Or g

, his jaw slack. The easy charm vani

to recover. "Fiona Wilson? Who's that? Some actre

building, trying to keep our asthmatic daughter alive, while you're bankrol

tching her teddy bear. Her small face

"Don't you dare talk like that in front of

ere were you when she had her last attack at 3 AM? Where were you when she cried herself to sleep because the mold was making he

shaken. "That's not fair! I p

artist, you're a Wall Street titan! A hedge fund manager! I saw th

ear was replaced by cold fury. "You we

the words like ice. "A job that

is expression immediately softening. "It's my agent," he mumbled, alre

ie. Anoth

scoffed. "Just li

lamming the door behind him. The

her close. She buried her face in m

buzzed again. This time, it was an unk

forgot to pick up the takeout, by the way. So silly, that man." She giggled. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know, he just sent me a new

there something else you need, Ms.

phase. He said to tell you he wants them all gone. Clean slate, you know? And he's decided to give me full control over the sale of the pe

ashing over me. This woman was venom.

it done,"

s. "You really are a diligent little worker

line dead. Predictable. Th

h fear. My heart twisted. My daughter deserved

her voice barely audible. "A

voiced the thought, but she sa

her, to tell her everything would

ng into her innocent eyes.

mine. A flicker of something I co

ddy has another family?" she

rld s