ke a ghost searching for a

chandeliers that dangled like frozen waterfalls. The deeper she went, the more claustrophobic it felt. There

upposedly-were always served. A wardrobe full of designer clothes appeared in her dressing room. A nurse cam

ot when Juli

ulately dressed, with the same guarded express

right away: he n

her back when they passed in narrow halls. His eyes, however, told another

ing. His gaze would linger on her hands, her face, her throat-unt

eak something? Or run? But she couldn't bring herself to speak the

nly part of the mansion that wasn't kept pristine. Dust coated the corners

f books, faded photographs, and a grand piano covered in a thi

on stared back at her in its glossy black surface. She looked... older than she felt. Not i

sat a photo frame,

rned it over. He

wind in their hair. She was laughing, her head tilted back, eyes sparkli

the dress, not the beach, not

hadow moved i

Julian leaning against

sed to be in here

I didn't know. Th

oom before settling on the photo in her hand.

gain, her fingers tightening on

gently took it fr

not

he photo and pulled the cover back

it?" she asked. "About w

ul thing, Emma. And yours is still fractured.

oward him. "Do yo

fro

ung in the air

said, "I m

not what

"Love is... complicated. It

did I feel like I had to leave

flickering behind his calm mask. "Beca

oul

at followed wa

yond the French doors. Every room in this mansion was beautiful, yet felt like a cag

e entered the room. The way her skin bristled when he stood too close. The way her stom

n't fee

nything, she di

of glass cutting through fog. A flash of an argument. Her voice rising. His han

wake, drench

e hallway, she he

was sti

watc

s wat