led me. His voice was

d like to continue the conversation. He' s proposed a private

n in his office had unsettled him. The necklace had triggered

y," I said, fei

quires the proper context. And he' s prepared to make a substantial don

s trying to buy my compliance, ju

r a calculated pause.

his life, inside the home he had built on my ashes. I needed

ocean. It was cold and imposing, a fortress, not a home. Liam greeted me at the do

efore a massive painting. He was dressed casually i

that predator' s smile. "I'

ed dryly, my eyes scanning the walls. Each p

in," he said, his gaze int

I was his audience. I played my part, asking intelligent questions, making notes, all while my real attention was on my surround

e house, darker, with leather chairs and bookshelves filled wi

lass. "What is your story? A critic with your r

plied, taking a sip. "Mine i

yes searching my face, trying to peel back the layers. "That necklace you we

expression remained placid

ng. "It wasn' t. She designed it

it was almost a certainty. The air cr

I said, placing my glass on the table an

away, but he moved

he asked, his voice low and da

oice cut through the tension. "N

e looked at me, then at Noah' s intense expression, and

ng," Noah said, his ey

no sincerity whatsoever. "You must st

cold. "Askin

ering with malice. "He said you lo

I asked, my voice

vault. The one he commissioned of Ava before the... accident. He look

ng him a twisted fairy tale. He was using my memory, my face, to indoctrinate this child. The

t Noah, my shoulder hitting his. For a second, I felt h

voice from an adjoining room, talking to Noah. "Are you

w growl. "If it' s her... I need to know. I

ld ocean air feeling like a slap against my face. He wasn' t just a manipulator. He w