rumbled, a dissonant sound in the cathedral-like space. She passed the oil portraits of Ste

e shadows near the library. His eyebrows sho

ng? Are you.

Hampton house for a few days, Alfred. I need some sea air

the driver? Or

at her left hand. The ten-carat diamond solitaire weighed down her finge

o her skin, before sliding off. She placed it on the silver tray usual

ed an Uber

n at her. He didn't move to op

d skin, raw and unforgiving. She didn't look back. She walked down the long, he

ked, a heavyset man w

her bag in the ba

ere

tan. Tr

wling estate behind, Lily felt a phantom

rlooking Central Park, Ethan Sterling picked up

ook a duffel bag. And

felt a flicker of annoyance, like a gnat

On the ha

ter the office. "She's throwing a tantrum, Alfred. S

called a...

attention." He looked at Spencer. "Freeze her supplementary cards. All of them. Lo

hesitate

She'll be back before the gala tonight, crying and apologizing." Ethan hung up and tossed the

amry, Lily's

ansaction Declin

Card Frozen. e

Card Frozen. e

n: Trust Ac

e," she muttered. She opened her wallet. She had four hundred dollars

e into Manhattan. A freezing rain mixed wit

busy corner in Tribeca. "Can't

Lily handed

of her bag and began to walk. The rain soaked through her coat instantly. She was just another f

ng. A puddle of slushy, gray water

rounded the corner, taking the turn

st to neck. She gasped, the shock of the cold stealing her breath.

dow, she saw a profile. Blo

he car disappeared, was a glimpse of fabri

it back. He had si

of exhaust and city grit. She watched t

two blocks to a brownstone bui

?" A voice

e. It

the elevator opened on the fourth floor, Chloe was standing there, holding a glas

shit

were blue. "I left him," she said, her teeth c

ass-it shattered on the floor, red liquid staining

Chloe's guest bed, the television in t

. And look at that-he's accompanied by Sterling VP Serena Vance. A pow

s smiling. He didn't look like a man whose wife was missi