my voice a dead monoton

light. "Keyla feels responsible for your

other's garden w

tribute. She's ordered all of your mother's f

her's sacred space, to plant flowers as a "tribute" orchestrated by her

The word was q

"Don't be difficult, Janet

aid

o you want to stay down here? Because I can e

threat hung in the air

e purr. "Just do this, and I promise, things will get better. We can

s done being charmed. But for my plan to

slow, def

ing sunlight. He led me to the backyard, where dozens of trays of flowers and bags of soil

et my good side,

ed me forward.

he cool earth, the earth my mother had loved. With every flower I planted, a piece of my old life fell

ting my "penitent" labor. Keyla watched from a lounge chair,

left, darling. We wa

s covered in dirt and sweat. Keyla dismissed the

ismissive wave of her

g an arm around her waist. "It looks b

the garden, with no more emotion than if

eling the cool earth beneath my hands. I remembered Garrison bringing me a single, perfect rose from this gard

. Or maybe he nev

e. It had been systematically tortured and starved until it simply ceased to exi

wn, smiling for the cameras. He was holding her hand. The caption read: "Billio

ing. The pa

n the other. I took my wedding ring, a simple platinum band, and my engagement ring, a dia

as immensel

ollection of rare orchids. He had spent a fortune on them. He

. I tore the petals and crushed the leaves under my

a notification. I was preparing a statement, a final

opened. Garriso

when he saw the carnage. His face, usually so

you do?" he whisper

licker of fear in his eyes. For the first time, he l

my voice calm and even. "

me, his hands up in a placating gesture. "I know I've been... hard on you. But I promise, after this me

x this. He had no idea what was coming. He had n