sh armchair across from he

ressed against the wound in the car. A faint red stain was already seeping through the white

oured a cup of steaming tea and pushed it toward Camilla. Her movements were

as soft, but it demanded an honest answer. "What happen

d one cradled in her lap. The heat seeped into her skin, but her chest remained freezin

nor," Camilla lied smoothly. "Carlisle and

s. It felt like the older woman w

d with you signing divorce pa

shed over the rim and burned her fingers. She didn'

d. Her voice didn't shake. "He di

ed her head to look at the orang

Eleanor murmured. "Too willing to sacr

Her eyes were sudde

ace. It needs an heir. A Stark heir

understood now. Eleanor was the only one who was nice to her, but at the end of

for a fraction of a second.

Eleanor," Camilla whispere

ard. She gripped th

My health... isn't what it used to be. I ne

eep, hollow sadness carve out her insides. She had given u

l decision right then and there. Her smil

a said. "Carlisle and I will...

relieved. The warm, grandmoth

hear. Now, go home and talk

nod. She turned and walked out of the study. Her

f the estate. The freezing night

ropped the cigarette onto the pavement and crushed it beneath his expensive leather shoe. He didn

se than the drive there. Camilla stared out

ator up in silence. Carlisle unloc

edroom. He pulled a duffel bag from the closet and started throwing hi

er of the living room. Sh

id. Her voice

d moving. He di

?" he ask

d stood a few feet behind his broad back. "Regarding the divorce," s

He looked at her, his eyebrows

change my mind?" she

. Her eyes were clear and

'm moving out tomorrow.

second. He stared at her empty hands, realizing s

ing smirk twi

ered. "Don't worry, I'll have my lawyer han

t to his insult. Sh

ye, Ca

duffel bag, walked past her, and headed straig

door cli

s. Her knees gave out. She slid down the wall and hit the floor. She buried her f

own only laste

self off the floor. She walked into th

atches, his cologne-and threw them into black trash bags. She careful

d at her reflection in the full-length mirror

m," she whispered to the empty room