, walking step by deliberate step across the terrace and onto the

udible scoff escaped his lips, a sound of pure annoy

n the small boy still hiding behind Sabri

ht, struggling to remain even. "

ook a defiant step forward and spat. A small glob of sali

raw, primal anger she didn't recognize surged through her. She

ween them, prying at Chloe's fingers with surprising strength. "He's just a child! Please, you're hurtin

on her shoulder and shoved her backward. The force

ng shadow. His eyes were chips of ice. "What the hell is wrong with you?

n twisted his head and sank his sma

took over. She yanked her arm back, a purely reflexive motion to escape the p

e him, cradling him as if he'd been gravely wounded. Her eyes, now brim

rina Kowalski, Sabrina's mother and Ethan's nanny, c

up from the ground. She clutched the boy to her chest, glaring at Chloe wi

ng with blood. A wave of nausea and self-loathing washed over her. She was horrifie

te, silent plea in her eyes. Say s

reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a folded silk pocket square, and hand

lap. It was a public declaration of allegiance. In this

. There was no point. She simply turned, her back ramrod straight, and walked

he grand, sweeping staircase to the second floor. She entered the master bedroom su

cold water tap and held her bleeding wrist under the str

makeup smudged, her eyes wide with a look of haunted clarity. She took a deep, shu

k out the folded lab report and smoothed it out on the bed

rawer and removed a thick file folder. Inside was a document she had drafted with her lawyer yea

focusing on the clauses related to divorce and child custody. They were bru

umber from a discreet business card she kept hidden in her wallet. It was an e

ternity test," she said, her voice de

-in closet. From the very back, behind a row of evening

layer of her old life sloughing away. The dutiful wife. The lovin

d final in the silent room. The decision was made. She