d spent the last five years comforting me whenever I missed my father. I stared at her, waiting for that familiar laugh she usuall

" I asked, struggling t

e jewelry box from my hands and closed it so forcefully that I flinched. "Nothing,

rian's father killed mine. That's not something you say by

on, as though I had offended her by asking a perfectly reasonable question. "Your father died in a car

you mention it n

e snapped. "Honestly, I don't know what's gotten into you latel

I had smelled on my husband's shirt. Instead, I folded my arms and watched her struggle to mainta

my mother's necklac

ed. "Your moth

when I turned eighteen. Adrian told me it disappeared from our

, she appeared to be searching for an explanation. Finally,

eweler. He said he'd found it and wanted

here a note add

isappeared.

ed it into her handbag before I could stop her. "This is getting ridiculous, Isabella. I cam

I followed her into the hallway, my anger growing with every step. At the ent

r problems you're having with Adrian, don't drag his father into

ive away, feeling more disturbed than I had when she arrived. Vanessa had always

The affair was real. The messages were real. And whether Vanessa had been telling the truth

ang shortl

unded unusually cheerful. "I h

yes. "I'm fin

calling. Something important has come up

around the phone

ed in one of our developments. I'll be

ts requiring my signature. "What about

." He paused before adding, "I hate leaving you alone, b

Adrian. I

ld have helped him pack, reminded him about his medication, and waited anxiously for hi

occasionally sent flight confirmations there because I used to manage his travel arrangements. After sever

y, I felt foolish for susp

ther email beneath

ation from the airline, sen

rvation had b

eference against the original confirmation. Everything matc

n. Vanessa had posted a photograph on her social media p

. Finally taking so

ase was identical to the one Adrian had bought her as a birthday

il arrived in our shared account. This one was fro

n for a luxury suite, booked under Adr

the special requests section. There, beneath the instructions abou

s reservation. The guest accompanying Mr. Bennett

gan to blur. Then I noticed one final ins

e same suite used during his

eath

ery wedding anniversary togeth