en in the black sedan, which the driver had silently dropped her off and left without explanation. It stopped in f

shortfall from the little cash she had. She drag

from a row of overflowing trash cans near the entrance. A sense of unease ti

to calm her racing heart, and then pushed

scent light bulb that flickered on and off. The air was thick w

own jacket he'd almost never worn, the hood pulled low to obscure his face. He hesitat

s really into the role, I have to admit,"

and sent a text mess

ed. The g

y replied, "Aiden,

then put his phone back in

rtment number was written on the door in peeling gold letterin

open the door, and a must

room furniture consisted of only a worn-out, uneven sofa and a rickety coffee ta

ooms-the only furniture was a single bed with a thin mattress and a rickety wardrobe

handle-it was locked. A yellowed sticky note was stuck to th

lips. She had escaped one cage, only to fal

he called a room in Kowalski's house. Here, no one would barge in without knocki

belongings into the closet-a small but determined ge

k before making his appearance. He strode up the stairs, his

ng. Her body tensed.

ared at each other across the cramped living room, a silence heavy with unspoken questions. This was th

t's... fairly clean," he said, his voice low and rumbling. He

nodded, unsure

's your room." Then he pointed to the locked door. "That's the

over his chest. "We don't interfere with eac

ny remaining, foolish embers of hope-the thought that thin

. "A copy of a prenuptial agreement. The one you signed. I suggest you read it again

her face for any sign of disappointment, any cr

aid calmly. Her lack of response seemed to anno

nformation gap between them became a ta

first question that came to mind. "

me and put his hands in his p

xpression enigmatic. "A litt

g enough for two people. Aiden had bought two Chinese takeout meals fro

being the hum of the old refrigerator and the

e and spoke again. "So...

then slowly put down his chopstick

d again, her voice filled with confusion. "I didn'

decipher. "Because there's no need. This is a transaction, n

a door. Evelyn lowered her head, continued

heir name, a freelancer who needed "business consulting," a two-be

aside for now. Tonight, all s