e the home she had shared with Andrew since their

ndrew called o

nger surpr

erything for him, even if she was caring for her mother in t

im, Andrew somehow always ha

straight fo

rriage, Andrew had forbidden

ivate space and made it clear

o longer cared

only a computer, a pen holder, and a

in graduation gowns, smili

syn's graduation cap, making the pictur

k an old ache Emilia

ng photos or even posed together for an ordinary picture. Their wedding an

d to attend their wed

every guest by he

e with a glass in hand, thanking everyone and drinking to their

'd rather be anywhere but a

out. Staying would only m

ply, and even five years later, sh

e frame and looked

eatures, while genuine happ

he looked when h

st carefree, nothing like the man Em

sk, turned on his computer, and beg

if Emilia ended the marriage after more than three years, she would receiv

giving up a single thi

igned, Emilia slid them beneath the p

rriage with one suitcase, and five years later, e

had almost reached the front door when M

eparing dinner? Mr. Murray will be

spect, sounding as though she were

eyes turning cold. "I'

ways endured whatever people demanded of her, so

ooking." Martha's voice grew uneasy. She had prepared meals fo

ave a dismissive laugh and pulled

the spot behind her, too

ed home later

itchen, and there wasn't even the faint smell of dinner i

over him, though he couldn'

et him with coffee and a plate

on shapes, then held them up with a b

same. "Why do you keep wasting ti

never seemed discouraged. By the following

lly asked after waiting for qu

n't know where she went,"

ed. Emilia had become far

. "You have thirty minutes to get home. If you

didn't

te has been going on for nearly three months. Our legal team still hasn't found a workable way to win. We may have to

," Andrew said

d push his company to t

her office several times, but her secreta

are what it takes. Pay whatever sh

tly stopped practicing five years ago. She disappeared from the

find her and convince her to come back. I don't care w