hours, dazed, the city light

d, my side ached with a deep, p

enniless, u

beside me. I bar

ar

avid Harrison,

om a quieter, less flashy branch of the Vanderbilt family. Al

e car, his expre

you alright?" He saw the

ust shook my head,

of the building I'd just been

ghtened fo

ice gentle but firm. He o

sita

rah. Let me

e to go. I numbly

es into the trun

a while. I stared out th

omfortable, unpretentious pl

n a sofa, and brought me a glas

on my cheek with su

." I started, my voic

standing that surprised me. "My aunt Eleanor can be... ruthle

d tending

re, Sarah. As lo

is near-stranger of

doing this?

always respected you, Sarah. The way you were with

in a daze. David was kind, unobtrusive

ound me staring b

wn, looki

g. This situation, it's untenable for

at him, too we

breath.

him, shock

ive you a home, security. My name would offer some protection

osal for a practical arrangement. No strings, unle

onvenience. To

ut what did I ha

, shattered. Ethan h

lifeline, a way

eard myself

hen a small, almost relie

assed. Ethan was re

old business file on his laptop

ed, filled with years of

sy, trying to bake a cake. Us, wh

bled as he click

aying "I love you, Ethan Vande

in his m

looded back. Ten years of us

pital. My desperate

hat he'd believed, hit him with phys

overwhelming love fo

ds shaking, and dialed my old

me, called old friends, anyo

number from a relucta

nown number. I alm

el

Ethan." His voice

art s

ne? I'm so sorry, so incredibly sorry. I love you, Sarah. I've al

ing the phone tightly. Da

n," I said, my voice

up to you, I swear. I'll leave Brit

, Ethan," I

, "Married? T

. David H

ence, longe

cousin? No, Sarah, you're just saying that to punish me. Yo

terly convinc

"Goodbye

ng with a strange mix of

n, saw my fa

. "He re