ing?" Lily asked, her smal

oll in her arms, a gift f

r heart aching. "Yes, sweetie. We're go

ords felt like ash in her mouth. This

a ghost in their lives. He was a prominent real estate developer,

ade sure

l room, a sterile white space that felt as cold as her marriage. Liam had

ys chos

a chilling indifference. "Don't let her get in my way," he had said, hi

his affection. Sarah had taught her to call him "Mr. Hayes.

y, her eyes wide with hope

reply, not even looki

r with a kindness he never showed his own. The final straw had been a few weeks ago, at a company event. He had brought Ol

ed then. They

miliar, painful hope. "My birthday is in two weeks,"

iam had never celebrated

's resolve crumbled. "Okay, sweetie," she heard herself say.

new would be broken. It was a final, painfu