LOGINBianca’s POVI followed Finn out of the waiting room into the corridor, almost running, my hand on my stomach. "Finn. Finn, wait."He stopped by a window but didn't turn round straight away. When he did, his face was tired.I could barely whisper. "Her?""Yes."I couldn't breathe. This wasn't news. It was what I'd been afraid of for five days. A glamorous woman at a boutique counter, sliding her card across, telling the girl to wrap it for her sister while I stood there and watched. Five days of not asking anyone, because I didn't want the answer.I put my hand on the windowsill to steady myself, and the cold of it went into my bones. Five days ago, on my own sofa, I had told him Elena was nobody, a girl with no family, and that nobody would ever come looking for her. Somebody already had. He had been standing right in front of me when I said it."Since when?" I said. "Since when have you known?""Since Friday.""And you came to my flat on Saturday and let me talk.""I came to tell yo
Julian’s POVThe waiting room reeked of stale coffee and disinfectant. I'd been sitting by the window since dawn, watching the light come up over the city. Martha sat beside me, her handbag perched stiffly on her knees. My mother sat opposite us, her diamonds flashing coldly in the overhead light, her mouth a tight line.Grandma had gone into theatre at six. The muted television flickered in the corner, and the hard vinyl chair dug into my back. I stared out of the window, back on Tuesday morning.Marlowe had asked Grandma a few questions, his voice clipped. Then I'd thanked him, and told him Bianca said she'd talked him round. He'd looked at me for a long moment over the top of the file, and said nothing at all. Then a nurse had closed the door in my face, because the patient had asked for privacy.I'd wanted to storm in there and demand answers. But he had already turned his back on me to sit by her bed. I'd walked away.Martha's quiet voice brought me back. "Mrs. Sterling came last
Elena’s POVThe clock on the wall read four. Julian sat in one of the low reception chairs, too small for him, his knees too high. His coat was folded over his arm, his hands empty in his lap. Two clients waiting looked up from their magazines at the tall man in the expensive coat, then back down. The receptionist kept her eyes on her screen.When he saw me in the doorway, he stood. "Dr. Torres," he said, as if the name cost him something.Beside me, Naomi held out his intake form. Under Reason for visit, he had written one word. Sleep."Mr. Sterling," I said, without inflection. "My office."I didn't wait to see if he followed. I walked back down the corridor past the framed certificates on the wall, left my office door wide open, and stood against my desk. I didn't sit."I can't treat you," I said."You haven't heard what's wrong with me.""I was married to you. That's what's wrong with you. Ethically. I can't treat a man I was married to. You know that.""I know.""Then why are you
Elena’s POVOn Tuesday I woke before dawn, before the sun or the house was up. My stomach turned over, and I was out of bed before I could think about it, the cold tiles of the bathroom stinging my knees. I left the tap running so the sound of the water would cover the sound of me being sick. I didn't want to wake Tracy or the brothers. I did not want to have this conversation.I rinsed my mouth and leaned my forehead against the cool edge of the basin. I would have stayed there forever, but a soft knock on the bedroom door made me straighten, slowly."It's me," Tracy said. "I've got ginger tea and I'm not leaving."I turned off the tap, pulled my dressing gown tight and opened the door. Tracy stood there in an oversized nightshirt, a mug in each hand, her mouth pressed shut as if she was holding something in it. I took one mug from her and let her in.She set the second mug on the nightstand and sat on the end of the bed, patting the place beside her. "Drink," she said.I sat and lif
Julian’s POVOn Monday morning at eight, I sat alone in my office at Sterling Tower. The city stretched out in shades of grey below my window. I picked up the phone and dialled Bianca's number."Your brother called me last night," I said when she answered. "Thursday. Thank you."The line was silent for a beat too long. Then her voice came through, warm and breathy. "I told you he'd come through.""Whatever you said to him, it worked.""I just asked. He never says no to me. He'll take good care of her. He's the best there is.""So I'm told."She laughed softly, as if I had made a joke.I gripped the phone harder. "Tell him I'm grateful.""I will." A pause. "Julian, are you all right? You sound strange.""I'm fine." I hung up and stared at the phone for a long moment.A knock at the door, and Liam's head appeared. "You asked about Dr. Torres, sir."I waved a hand at the chair across my desk. "Go on."Liam set down a thin folder and opened it. "She practises as Torres, sir. There's no re
Julian’s POVA black car was parked on the gravel by the steps, its windows up. I knew that car. The dark glass gave me nothing. I came in through the front door early, pulling off my gloves. Sarah was in the hall, flustered."Sir! You're early. Mrs. Sterling is with Madam.""Mrs. Sterling," I said.Sarah went red. "Sorry, sir. Miss Elena. I mean."I didn't answer. Through the morning room door I heard my grandmother laughing, really laughing, a sound I hadn't heard in that house for weeks. I stopped with one glove still on.I walked into the morning room, still in my coat, and stopped in the doorway. Elena sat beside Grandma at the card table by the fire, cards scattered across the blanket. Martha was by the window. A pen lay beside Grandma's saucer.Elena didn't look up at once."I'm having the operation," Grandma said, triumphant."What?" I said."Elena asked," Grandma said. "I said yes."I looked at Elena. She laid her cards down, kissed Grandma's cheek, picked up her bag."Thursd







