LOGINI can hardly believe it. Before my friends can say anything else, I squeal and throw my arms around them both, jumping up and down. Liam and Brian and the twins are the one major thing I’ve missed dearly since leaving Bo’Arrocan, and to find that they’re finally considering living in Ordan full time
“On schedule, believe it or not,” I reply. “The Bo’Arrocan branch is finally running smoothly, and the Ordan location just graduated its first class of seniors. Six of them got full scholarships to prestigious art schools.”“That’s amazing, Iris.” Alice squeezes my arm. “You’ve created something tru
IrisFive Years Later…“Fifty years of marriage, and they still make each other laugh like that,” Arthur says, appearing at my side with two glasses of champagne. He hands me one and clinks his against it, and we watch as my parents twirl on the lawn, my mom throwing her head back at something my fa
“Gee. Thanks,” I manage to laugh weakly. “I’ll see you all next week.”“You most certainly will not,” Arthur, Hunter, and Alice all say in unison, making me roll my eyes.Outside, Arthur’s car is waiting, parked haphazardly half on the curb. He must have driven like a maniac to get here so quickly f
IrisEight months later…“And that’s why the colors on this side of the color wheel are considered ‘cool’ colors,” I explain to the class of children sitting in a semicircle around me. “They remind us of water, ice, and the sky.”I’m demonstrating on a large color wheel chart when a sharp pain rips
And through it all, Augustine’s breathing grows slower, shallower.Then, quietly and calmly, she goes.Her hand turns limp in mine. The steady beeping of the heart monitor flatlines. The doctor steps forward, checks for a pulse, then shakes her head.“Time of death, 10:47 AM,” she says quietly.I br
My blood runs cold. “Are you saying this wasn’t an accident?”Ezra’s expression hardens. “I’m saying it’s suspicious. Especially given the timing… with the custody battle just starting.”A murderous rage begins to build up inside of me. “Find out who did this,” I order, my voice dropping to a danger
Arthur & IrisArthurI check my watch for the third time in as many minutes as I sit in the conference room. The meeting was supposed to begin nearly twenty minutes ago, and Iris still isn’t here. Even her lawyer arrived before she did.Maybe she’s decided against this, a tiny voice in the back of m
“Iris! Iris, wait!”I don’t respond. I don’t look back. I don’t even look at his fading form in the rearview mirror.…The drive to our new apartment later that afternoon is silent. Miles sits in the backseat, his face pressed against the window. He hasn’t spoken to me in days—not since I told him w
IrisI can’t believe I’m doing this.Suing Arthur for custody feels wrong. Cruel, even—not just to him, but to myself and Miles as well. Each day since I took the lawyer’s offer, I feel as if I’ve made a grave mistake.And yet, at the same time, it feels like the only solution. The only way out from







