rey pavement outside the Marria

as d

as her key. Her shield. Her eyes scanned the document, but the words blurred. All she could focus on was the official seal

she said, hal

ncrete steps. He checked his phon

lawyers," he said. "I'll

not moving in yet. I have thi

tand that she needed space to dismantle her old li

leek, matte black business card. It had no company name, no title. Ju

taking the card.

me," he lied smoothly. "Gaston. 'Babe'

was trying to clean up his image, droppi

, Gas

ed up instantly, as if summoned by his

sounded like an order,

ar window as the taxi pulled away. He stood there, a dark statue aga

back, her h

one:

: Scorch

Instagram. Block. She opened WhatsA

Douglas from her

she

ered on the

e you ready to accept Mr. Henderson's in

as calm, steady, devoid of the trembling fear

unned silence on the

What? T

said. "The certificate is

e composure cracked. "Who is he? Did you pi

n bluffed. She hoped Babe Vincent had money left. "I want th

!" Elouise protested. "She's already

. "It's in the trust. Transfer it, or my

r. The Schneiders lived lavishly, but everyone knew their

ke poison. "Take the damn house. But

money, Mother. I ju

yn hu

ns. It felt like oxygen. For the fir

b driver asked, eyeing h

Jocelyn said. "The

o back. She

older man named Ralph, tipped his hat. He looked at her w

Ms. Wolfe," h

orning,

, the numbers climbing s

nthouse. It was silent.

m. She didn't cry. She didn

her expensive skincare. She stripped the bed sheets she had bought with her o

unter, right next to a half-empty coffee mug Kieran had left d

her left han

e had forgotten

e marriage," she m

levator. The wheels rumbled loudly