tter arrived

ry flyers, the envelope heavier than the rest, cream-

open it r

her that bad news anno

ned his in perfect rows. Noah insisted red was faster than blu

the envelope

ed until

ly fell quiet, she sat o

to Review Custo

rds bl

eutral, but sharp with implication. A third party had raised c

nds began

ri

need proo

buzzed mom

just received t

screen, anger flari

u said this wo

passed before

said I would tr

n't good

s scheduled th

aided Elena's hair twice to get it right. Ethan wore his favorite sweater.

ting room too bri

ith perfect posture, legs crossed,

the hospital file photo Adrian had shown he

e slid to t

ile curve

y and positioned hers

ow. "Relax. I'm not h

tried," Lina

ad. "Tried? No. I c

shifting the air. His expression

too far,

efully. "I exerc

rights to them

r. "That depends on how th

d closer to L

ed faintly

a woman with a clipbo

ed into was small, n

essionally. Questions about routin

swered

wered str

a separate evaluation, Lina fel

t rigid b

," he said und

"You can't end wh

Adrian called

the situatio

had le

out intent, compensation, and future involvement should circumstances change.

ttlement," Adri

rp and broken. "O

dgment," he continued. "An

ildren?" Li

n hes

ood. "S

ants a

hit lik

immediately. "

drian said.

lly," Lina interrupted.

something raw in his

em?" Li

he said.

t awake long after

The paperwork. The way people like Maris move

none o

y l

ne buzz

r: You can't

n't need

re: I'm

Number:

rian made a decision

a press

t on her phone

nd a podium, expr

te for too long," he said. "Three children exist as a result of a medical

rupted with

mpt to exploit this situation for persona

r penthouse, fury fla

at the scr

chosen

n, another le

e was d

rary in

contact f

ges until the r

h, relief crashing over

rived an

to do that," Li

replied.

ood in

rself at ris

first," he

then-subtle, dan

ne d

n con

n loy

ed the children into bed

fe?" he as

d his fore

e since Maris had app

the city, Maris Moore

unctions we

never lo