nderson

uilding. I pulled out two suitcases,

my late mother had left me. The plants she'd grown herself were incredibly delicate and rare, yielding only a few

"insomnia" episodes. I also used a tiny bit in

f oil wasn't just an object-it was a piece of my mother, a piece of my soul. I rush

a satisfied smile on her face. Gage stood by the nightstand, humming,

with fury. I lunged forward and snatched the empty bo

everything? It's just a bottle of oil. Caroline said she likes the scent, and

mother's! It's irreplaceable! There's no more of it in

rayal, the manipulation,

Eliza." Then he reached for the diffuser switch, his finger hovering over the button. "Now, if you'll

itting on the bed with a mocking smile. They looke

y. I picked up my suitca

ssed his face. He went back to the bed, sat down next t

so soon?" Her gaze swept over my packed suitcases and finally landed on a small wooden box on my nightstand.

over in her hands. Malice glinted in her eyes. "Aw, how sentimental." With that, she slammed

st-especially not Gage. He thinks you're trapped in the past, such a boring person." She pressed the rose dust deeper into the carpet with her heel. "You think yo

e. "Stop it, Caroline.

ze you're nothing without Gage, without this apartment, without all these little trin

onger be contained. I grabbed

ost her balance and fell backward, hittin

bdomen. Her voice was sharp and shrill, with exaggerated

th fury. "Eliza! What did you do?!" He saw Car

d me hard. The back of my head slammed into the wall behind me. Whi

ine, his face frantic as he fussed over her. "My

, slamming the door behind him

fled. "You're not going anywhere until you learn how to apologize!

thing. Apologize? Never. I looked around the room and my eyes fell on a heavy brass letter opener on the desk. I picked it up. My hand was st

le. I picked up my suitcases, one in each hand, and walked out. I didn't look back. I didn't care abou

eir faces tired but relieved. Caroline walked slowly, leaning on Gage for support. "Thank goodnes

egging for forgiveness." He walked toward my guest room, a dark satisfaction on his face. "Let

e was gone, my things were gone. Shock slowly sp

swer it. Standing outside was a burly man in a moving company uniform, follo

oice was hoarse from the c

we're here for the penthouse move.