eli

left my mouth, Adrian

n't expected that kin

of a dutiful wife for so long. No one in their ri

expected me to

confusion flicker

?" he

gaze withou

divorce. Tomorrow, ten a.m., let's meet in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau a

heading toward the restroom as I had originally i

sink, listening to the steady sound of r

ht years of sacrifice and th

aside, turning on the tap and running my hand unde

scrubbed, it wouldn't

ouldn't help but s

never be undone. There was no point t

ing left wa

turned off the tap and wa

ty as I made my way

f my footsteps, a soft smile fo

ed the moment his ga

wrong?"

d, offering hi

was already on his feet, gripping my a

ed, his voice taking

If anyone who knew him saw him like this-so openly concerned-they would p

rush it off, but at the last mom

finished when

behind this. Where is he? I

o move when I grabbed

se a scene

ed, a flicker of hu

e court tomorrow to finalize the divorce. There's no need to

oked past me, his eyes scanning the a

"There's a river nearby. It's

lightly. "A

me a f

have much of an appeti

e was already walking, mo

o something important

the table once bef

t is it?

s inner pocket and pul

n a few days," he said, handing

at the flyer

way from the field and now. i

o way I wou

. "I wan

Holland said you wouldn'

stilled a

e Ho

Grey-m

rimenting with our medical knowledge, he had discovered u

nd marrying Adrian, I ha

of guilt was

ou," Thomas said, as if readin

assuring smile to

d, and I retur

parted my li

oo

sped straigh

watch

nd my arm, pulling me back just

asked, his voice

"I'm fine.

hich had stopped just a short distance away a

lled, her voice as soft as e

my attention. It was the s

o

ough it did little to hide

ly without watching where you're going? If Aunt Beth hadn'

Elizabeth let

," she said gently. "She probably didn't

off, jumping down a

t fault. She should

turned to face me, he

me and Aunt

d there, both mom

ef at a child speaking

r

understand why I should

e who had al

ngrateful child dared to

el as though I had failed as a mother-wast

uly pa

calm. "If anyone should

clearly con

irm. "Only someone reckless would ride a bike li

my gaze st

ness, but you're now trying to shift the blam

tly. "I didn't raise yo

en her an impossible task-or perhaps she simp

Mom

like this,

in one hand, Elizab

lve this peacefully,

as she stopped

ent, I sa

almly,

the opinion o

second, but she quickly recovered, her lips

ay," she said softly, taking a sm

and, but before her fingers could t

y next second,

s if she had been shoved,

y escaped her l

someone rushed past me, shoving m

zabe

with worry as he held

d, his voice laced with ur

tly as she leaned into him. The corners of her eyes reddened a

ft and unsteady. "I was just trying t

ering her gaze as

expressio

denly what?"

, her voice dropping

he push

d Elizabeth tightened, his eyes turn

e dangerously low. "What ex