ext m

a knock on

esh white lisianthus. He was wearing

ise. She looked at Jan, her eyes

feeling today?" Jan asked

his glasses. Her tense s

taken care of my Elle," Mrs.

greement is ready for us to r

d weakly. "Good.

immediately reached out and took her weight. This si

room together. Jan led the

wind here," Jan said.

le's arm. "He's a reliable man,

acial muscles achi

e road. Jan got out, opened the back door, and shielded Mrs

ned it. The car merged into the congested traffic, crossed the bridge, and move

ding. Ignoring the cracked sidewalks and the smell of damp garb

om. Elle quietly closed the door. She went into the cra

he scratched Formica countertop. Jan opened his leather

d through the pages, her eyes sweeping over the bolded legal clauses. Complete fi

of security w

water. "I need this marriage certificate to prove my stability. Jesse and I will soon have a child thr

osing her child to a powerful family. She picked up a cheap pla

e next to hers. He put the documents awa

having dinner together this Friday

ready," E

d him. She listened to his footsteps echoing in the s

ront door. She slid her hand down to her flat

. Elle went over and picked it up. It was a text me

al handover documents signed by tom

replied to the confirmation messag

tap, cupped her hands, and splashed the icy water on her

he bedroom. Mrs. Hayes was lean

ft?" her mo

ng the faded blanket to her mother's chest.

calm expression on her face.

ened her old, overheated laptop. She typed "affordab

ped up. It was a Bloomberg financial headline. Cyrus's s

the living room window and gazed down at the dimly lit, garbage-strewn st

d up on the sofa, letting exhausti