nsidered himsel

ngineer. He lived in a qu

san Miller, always preferr

essful in their eyes. E

ivia, his wife.

ly, a local family with money. She

ortant. It was a feeling he r

l twin, Chloe. Chloe h

cident. It was a tragedy. She and

families gathered. It was

Chloe' s mother, sat at th

a heavy blanke

at Mark, th

strained but firm. "You need an h

stomach. He knew Eleano

gaze intense. "You can help Mar

m went

, then at Olivia, then

ggesting?" Olivia asked,

g. Or even one of yours, Olivia. You and Chloe were

He couldn't believe

expecting her to shut

," Mark said, looking down at hi

, Robert and Susan,

Susan Miller said softl

Chloe by asking her twin sister

d find his under the

strong. "That' s an outrageous idea. I can't

wash over him. That was hi

her hand aga

ous? It's about legacy. It's about

Ethan said, trying to keep his voi

," Eleanor snapped, her eyes co

ick with unspo

there, looking

iscomfort. This was a family

ust the beginning

s didn't giv

, she focused her attenti

ying about Chloe, about h

d want you to help him. It' s the

ese conversations. Olivia

arted working on

always saw Mark as the one who needed more supp

nderstanding," his mother, Su

suffering. Olivia is in a diffi

"Wanting my wife not to have a

ert, chimed in. "It's about helping family t

ad always prioritized Mark, always excused his b

eak something, and Ethan would get blame

bike. Ethan got

celebrated with parties. E

. She had chosen him, loved him for who he w

he t

me home late. She look

ain," she said, avoiding hi

ight?" Ethan asked,

le too quickly. "I told her it's

her arms around his

and, Ethan. You

sense of relief. He believed

isplay of loyalty, or w

a false sens

ed, that Olivia was standing fi

hat was happenin

al blackmail – "Chloe would want this," "Mark is falling apart," "It' s

s a twisted sense of duty,

rious. Olivia and Mark had always been friendly. Maybe too

ending more time

to help him cope, to list

of her "difficult position," agr

supposed to be out of

ed early. He decided to go home, surpri

ked up to the front do

oor. "Olivia? I

ans

e living room, towar

r, he heard sou

of in

cold. No. It

open the b

hrough the blinds, cast lo

n their bed,

nd Mark.

rld st

in his throat. D

physical shock, lik

rned itself