needed space. I told him I wanted to stay at my old apartment for a while, the one I kept after we moved in toget

the city, to a quiet, green cemetery on a hill. I walked thro

and David Ross

par

ing my jeans. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad," I whispered, my voi

. The baby I had lost. The baby Liam didn't even know existed.

. I was ten years old, and my world had shattered. Liam, who was twelve, had found me

looked at me with his serious, twelve-year-old eyes and made a promise. "Don't

y. He was the one who encouraged me to pursue architecture, who believed in me when I didn't be

Gala. Liam was supposed to be schmoozing with potential clients. I saw him talking to Clara at the bar.

all of her back, guiding her through the crowd toward the terrace. It was

rrace. They were standing close, their heads bent together. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I

't breathe. I slipped away before they could see me, my mind racing. I told myself I was

grave, I knew I hadn't been pa

g inside me. A cold, clear resolve. He wasn't going to get away with it. H

game. I would smile, I would pretend everything was fine. I would let hi

by piece, until he had nothing left. He thought he