continued its

rust fund was a significant blow, but it w

standards, but his power within the family co

living well on his dime, still clinging

r manufactured sweetness, her endless chatter abou

ing Alex. He hadn' t confronted her about it di

s building inside him. Toward

an intensity that wa

nwavering loyalty – all the things he had ta

nversation in his mind, h

so blind. S

ining order. He sent emails to old, shared accounts. He tr

ompletel

nd Will, grew incr

ing another grim visit to Ethan' s desolat

apped, pacing like a caged animal. "She' s

ill said. "You still have your fam

itterly. "My life is a ruin. And

ed this. He knew

lessen the pain. It only a

that his family always worried about, the one t

t that had nearly cost the Prescotts dearly.

he' d learne

y, he

essness, a seeking of thrills,

en the one to pay the

she had finally

through the ashes of t

dra came to his apa

ack dress, her hair perfectly styled. She

ng in as if she owned the place.

flat. He was sitting in the dark, a half-em

prettily. "We' re finally free. Alex i

ss him. He turn

n the mood,

with you, Ethan? You' ve been lik

f your act," he said, hi

fense. "I love you, Ethan

the meaning of the word. You' re an opportunist, Cassan

g in her eyes. He knew they were fake. He' d

"You saw me at my weakest, after the accident, and yo

her!" Cassandra insisted.

like ice. "She loved me. An

The sordid images. His

rted to remember Alex, when I tried to go back to her, you couldn'

. "I... I don' t know wha

The one you sent to Alex. The one that d

umbling. "I... I did it for us,

lled with contempt. "There never was. You we

, his fingers digg

"Get out of my apartmen

to the door and

e fear in her eyes now. "Where will I

oldly. "You got what you wanted. You

the hallway and slamm

is heart pounding, his body t

one. Utte

deserve

, Ethan rece

n' t recognize

ott? Ethan

is t

, an enemy. Depends

d. "What do

ing. About your past. About a certain incident in Lou

ad washed

amily had always feared.

alking about," Ethan said, tr

you do. A young woman. A tragic

the incident that had nearly ruined him years ago, the

ething far worse. Something he h

id. "Tonight. Pier 45.

ne wen

t his phone, h

ught was long dead, was

ing that this was only the

He was about to discover