shut, sealing Haskell's

ally collapsed. She sagged against the cool metal wall, ga

to have run dry, leaving only a

he biting midnight air of New York. The cold

inside, the door slamming shut behin

treaked woman with a suitcase, leaving one of Manhattan's most exclus

e. Her fingers stopped on a name in her c

resse

teady male voice answered. "Julis

Her voice was raw. "I've made a de

now sharp and serious. "Are you sure, Julissa? This isn't a

g no room for argument. "I don't want

e do?" Simon a

weet scent of that perfume filled her memory again. "Simon, help me. Draf

hed. "Okay, I understand. My team and I will get started fi

e. I'm i

o arrange a place

" She hesitated. "I... I think I'm

dress in a middle-class neighborhood in Que

he city a blur outside her window. Julissa saw none of it. He

ying Haskell Francis full of hope, beco

lla story of a girl from an ordinary family s

. Haskell had given her a life of unimaginable lu

d worked so hard, learning etiquette, art history, how to be the perfec

he wasn't good enough. It was that h

o-story house. It looked small, cramped, a

dragging her suitcase behind her. She stared

side. It wouldn't be a warm hug. It

or the baby inside her, she neede

breath and press

k nightgown, a facial mask plastered to her face. Her eyes took in Julissa

like that? Did you have a fight with Has