om felt like

e in a long time,

to demand a divorce, felt r

over years of neglect and his

left but dust an

would try to cont

to make me

be smart.

b of social obligations and quiet resentments. I lear

-up appointmen

thought was

s my options. Ab

toxic mess, with Ethan as a father, with

different one this time, part

ate lounge, a familia

Ava Mi

up. Dr. L

ege. He was a couple

ealthy medical family. His fam

cerned. Genui

see you," I said,

. are you alright? Y

ness was r

calm, kind eyes made

so,

, about Chloe. About t

im about

zing decision. That I was her

ild into such a broke

ently, his express

e. He didn't o

said softly. "That's a terrible situation. Whatever you deci

uine empathy was a stark contr

Liam. That m

old me he'd lost touch with many peopl

imes, years ago, for alumni thing

n changed our numbers. He said

d thoughtf

door to the lou

ere, his face

m, like a sha

doing here? With him?" Ethan

ocation. A shared app, or

to Liam, her eyes nar

vorce," Ethan sneered. "Orchestr