ad cried all night, but she had put on her makeup, dressed in a sharp business s

earing a pair of silky, ridiculously short pajamas that belonged to

a little gasp and tried to pull th

uldn't find my things, and I was ju

st nook, sipping coffee and readin

ed her husband. "I believe the kit

ession annoyed. "She was just being thought

ry. "I'm sorry, Ms. Cotton. I'l

short, cold laugh

called after her, b

o the city's most ru

teady. "And I want a full breakdown of our shared a

ded. "I'll get my team on it immediately, Ms. Cott

tant buzz of her phone. Dozens of calls and texts

as quiet. She walked up the sweeping staircase t

door and her breath

and thrown aside. A lacy black piece of lingerie-not hers-was tossed carelessl

the cloying scent of

sanctuary. Their marital bed. The line had

was a raw scream t

ter, looking flustered. He took in th

nded, her voice shaking with

avoiding her eyes. "Jovita was help

ng anything abo

ed behind him, her cheek

your beautiful lingerie when I was helping put away clothes, and I just

nding. She's a young girl, she was just being curious."

est was so immense she t

y low. "What's next? You'll tell me if I walked in on

er. "You've changed, Adriana. You

er of being

y, confident, and free. She had become so obedient, so quiet.

d out a thick manila envelope

ers, Gifford

ils shrinking to pinprick

en more seriou

alm down,"

ted, her voice flat.

apers and ripped them to shreds. "I wi

bling. "It's all my fault," she cried. "If I had

n the girl. "You're right. You

wailed

into a protective embrace. "She's just a

gh the house. The noise brought the Stanton Matria

edroom, her weeping grandson, the crying girl

ry for all of this." She explained the debt of gratitude the family

atriarch said, tears in her eyes. "Please, forgive Gifford's fool

apologized. "Adriana, I'm sorry.

Adriana's resolve wavered. Perhaps it cou

. For a few days, Gifford was attentive and kind. Adriana started to t

ace a thundercloud. Behind him, held up by a butler, was Jovita. Her cl

inger at Adriana. "You! How