ows. But it no longer felt like hers. It was just a building filled with ghosts of a life that was over. She moved with a detached efficiency, packing only

his face a mixture of anger and confusion. Behind him, clinging to his arm,

t. "Look what the cat dragged in. I thought you'

ape down calmly and looked directly at Mark. "I'

va with contempt. "You' re actually leaving? You' re pathe

now, they barely registered. Ava looked at the boy she had raised

iam' s arm. "Liam, honey, be nice. Your mother is going through a hard time. It' s not easy whe

al. Ava felt a strange sense of detachment, as

d you, I clothed you, I took care of you when you were sick. After today, that relationship is over. L

licker of something she couldn' t quite decipher. Was it regret?

s a complete record of your assets, including the shell compani

threaten me? You' re nothing without me,

se. She didn' t look back at the perfect family portrait they made-the smug mistress, the contem

gleaming, cold skyscrapers gave way to quiet, tree-lined streets. Mrs. Reed' s house was a

oving eyes, stood on the porch, her arms open. Ava didn' t need to say a word. She fell into her grandmother

warm kitchen table, and placed a steaming mug of tea in her hands. She didn' t ask questions.

softly, stroking Ava' s hair. "You' re

in was still there, a deep, raw ache, but it was no longer all-consuming. Here, in this small, warm house, she could finally begin to heal. Sh