ilent penthouse. It f

t the press conference – "That l

than any rage, any ar

ght, to be hurt, to event

achment was n

words, not from his recent call, but fr

ing Ethan for Liam, Liv.

hen. Ethan loved her. H

the table, his final, chilling text

from the nightstand. A cheap, wo

iliar emptiness

ad she

, Ethan pulled into the driveway

g of pine and damp earth.

ere, on the porch, wa

assionate. Now a successful lawye

dal. The news had reach

no pity in her eyes,

ome, Ethan

d him tightly, th

adn' t realized he was

n the porch swing, a comfo

nference was rough,

ed. "It was

u o

ills, so different from the

. "I think I' m fina

"Good. You de

e, unspoken thing. He' d been too wrapped up in Olivi

gain that week. Simple mel

l, but about quiet strengt

steady presence, his parents' quiet su

st time in a long, long time