Chapter 3

Adrian's smile faded.

“Right. You're allergic to seafood.”

He put down the spatula and came over, taking my wrist.

“Are you feeling all right? Have you been taking your medication?”

He remembered that, too. Over the past five years, he had stayed beside me whenever I was ill. I knew his concern was real.

Then Victoria appeared in the dining room doorway, a shrimp between her fingers.

“It's just one meal, Evelyn. You're not going to make a fuss just because I'm back, are you?”

“Victoria, stop.”

Adrian took the shrimp from her and turned to the staff.

“Have something else prepared for Evelyn. Keep it separate from the seafood.”

Then he looked back at me.

“It'll take a little time. Victoria's only just come home, and she's enjoying herself. Don't spoil the evening.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I'll keep you company after she's finished eating.”

Once, that gentle voice would have reassured me. He remembered my needs; surely that meant we were all right.

Now I could hear the condition attached to his care. I could have what I needed, as long as Victoria wasn't inconvenienced.

I eased my wrist out of his hand.

He glanced down at his empty hand, then back at me.

Victoria caught his sleeve and pulled him toward the table.

“Come on, I'm starving! Evelyn, don't look so miserable. People will think we're bullying you.”

Adrian let her lead him away, then glanced back.

“It's just dinner. There's no need to make a big deal out of it.”

“Then enjoy it. Have mine sent upstairs.”

I picked up my bag and went to the guest room. I wasn't going to wait beside them for my turn to have his company.

At my desk, I opened the email from my lawyer.

The draft divorce agreement was attached.

I read through it carefully, including the financial terms. My own savings were enough to live comfortably. I could leave while our lawyers worked through the rest.

The next morning was Lily's fifth birthday.

One day left.

I took her present out of the cabinet.

For a month, I had spent my evenings building her a miniature house from wood, cardboard, and tiny fittings. There was a balcony, a staircase, and a garden full of her favorite flowers.

She had once pointed to a house in her fairytale book and said, “Mommy, I want one like that when I grow up. With lots of flowers and a little bed in the sunshine.”

I'd put the bed beside the upstairs window.

I carried the house downstairs, supporting its base with both hands.

Party planners were filling the living room with pink balloons and enormous castle decorations.

Victoria came toward me in an evening dress, pointing excitedly around the room.

“Adrian arranged all this overnight. Lily said she wanted to be a princess, so we're giving her a castle!”

Then she noticed what I was holding.

“What's that? Cardboard? It's taking up quite a bit of room. Put it in the basement for now.”

Adrian came through the front door carrying Lily's custom-made princess dress. He glanced at the model and frowned.

“Why did you bring that down?”

“It's Lily's birthday present.”

He gestured at the decorations.

“Every space has been planned. That doesn't fit the theme.”

He handed the dress to Victoria.

“She's gone to a lot of trouble for Lily. Don't make this difficult over a cardboard house. Take it downstairs so they can finish.”

My fingers tightened against the edge, leaving a dent.

A month of work, and he hadn't even asked to look at it.

I shifted my hands beneath the base before I could damage it.

“I'll put it away myself.”

I carried it to the basement and set it carefully on a shelf. It was still Lily's present. Their party decorations didn't change that.

By afternoon, the estate was full of Moretti captains, representatives of allied families, and Victoria's old friends.

They gathered around the three of them, raising glasses. I heard one of Adrian's captains praise him for waiting five years for his wife to come home.

I took a seat away from the crowd, where I could still see Lily, and sipped my water.

Halfway through the party, Victoria caught me on my way to the restroom. Her red nails pressed into my wrist.

“Evelyn, there you are. I need to tell you something.”

She leaned closer, smiling.

“I want to start over with Adrian.”

I looked at her.

“I know you've been married for five years,” she continued. “You've worked so hard, looking after him for me. And you've done such a wonderful job with Lily.”

For me.

As though my marriage had been an errand she'd left me to finish.

“But you know what I'm like. I can't stand being tied down. I had to get away.”

She laughed lightly.

“Honestly, if you hadn't taken care of everything, coming back would have been much harder.”

She had staged her death to escape the responsibility of raising her child. I'd married Adrian, loved him, and raised Lily through all the years Victoria hadn't wanted.

Now she expected to step back into the life we'd built, as though I'd merely been keeping it ready for her.

“Could you put in a good word for me?” she asked.

“With Adrian?”

“He listens to you. Tell him I had my reasons for leaving. I know he still has feelings for me, but he's bound to resent me a little.”

She glanced toward the living room, then smiled again.

“Though maybe I don't need your help. Have you noticed how much time he's spent with me since I came back?”

I said nothing.

“You've looked after him for five years, Evelyn. I'm here now. You can leave the rest to me.”

When I didn't answer, she squeezed my wrist.

“You're not going to refuse, are you? We're sisters.”

Five years ago, being sisters hadn't stopped her from leaving me to deal with the grief and responsibilities she'd escaped.

Now she wanted it to oblige me to help her take my place.

I withdrew my hand. My voice stayed quiet.

“Ask him yourself, Victoria.”

Her smile faltered.

“I've already taken care of enough for you.”