d before Valenti

or Martinez had visited twice more, each time fixing Regina with that calculating gaze, asking pointed questions about her background, her family, her li

d to find a note on the kitchen coun

girl up at 3 PM. Bring her to th

V.

to residents of the surrounding buildings. Regina had walked past it once, peering through the iron gates at the manicured lawns

best outfit-a blue cotton dress with tiny white flowers, worn but clean, her dark c

ing?" she asked, her b

t," Regina said, her voice

he n

had seen glimpses of something beneath the ice-pain, vulnerabil

ut I need you to be on your best beh

small face serious. "I'll

ren't her fault, who shared her toys with strangers, who smiled through her pain even when her little hear

ilent man in a dark suit. Regina helped Lily into the backseat, her hands trembling. Li

tty, Mama,"

might-through some cruel twist of fate-actually be her father. Or he might not be. She didn't know anymore. The lie had t

ng across the path. Valentine stood beneath a massive oak, his hands in the pockets of his dark coat, his e

stuttered at th

she whispered to L

didn't move, didn't speak. His eyes were fixed on Lily, and for a moment, Regi

r voice steady despite the trem

eyes. She didn't seem afraid, only intrigued. "Hello,"

vy. Regina held her breath, waiting for the explosion, the ac

didn'

vements were stiff, awkward, as if he had forgotten how to interact with another

aid, his voice roug

tudying him right back.

ine's lips-there and gone so quickly Regin

Mama's

egina, his eyes unreadabl

ess and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. "I drew you a picture," sh

ully. It was a drawing of a tall man with dark hair, a small girl with curly hair,

to the tall figure. "And that's me

s heart

ed up, his eyes were bright with something Regina couldn't name

d. "You're

was a question in his eyes, a silent demand for answers she

asked, his voice softer than Regina

t up. "Ducks?

lentine froze, his entire body going rigid. For a moment, Regina thought he might pull aw

eading her down the p

felt something crack open inside her chest. She had lied to bring them together. She had manipulated and schemed and done things she was

ray cat that lived outside their apartment. Valentine listened, asking occasional questions, his response

, her small arms wrapping around his legs. Valentine stiff

," he said, hi

looking up at him with a s

poken passing between them. "Yes,"

asleep against Regina's shoulder, exhausted from the exc

. She kissed her forehead, whispered a prayer, and then retreated to the t

t them together. And now, she h

. A text from an

le. I want a p

course. She had known it would come to this.

If she refused, Valentine would become suspicious. If she ag

ad thought. She didn't know the truth anymore. She didn't know who Lily's father was. She didn't know what had happened during th

Martinez really

ifying. And exhilara

single word

k

down, buried her face