LOGIN~ Ivy ~"Sign on the yellow tab, Mrs. Knight," the lawyer says.Mr. Henderson slides a thick stack of white pages across the wooden surface. He taps a small yellow arrow with the tip of his finger. The black letters on the top sheet read: Monroe Family Irrevocable Support Trust. I look down at the paper. My hands rest flat on the table. My fingers stay still. A year ago, papers on a table meant panic. Papers meant divorce decrees, hospital discharges, and eviction notices. Today, the papers mean closure. Ethan sits in the chair beside me. His large hand rests next to mine. He keeps his palm open, giving me space, yet remaining close enough for me to touch his knuckles. "Take your time, Ivy," Ethan says softly. "We have the entire morning.""I am ready," I say. I pick up the heavy black pen from the tray. Mr. Henderson adjusts his glasses. He turns a page over with a sharp snap."Let us review the restrictions once more," Mr. Henderson says, clearing his throat. "The terms are exact. A
~ Ivy ~"Good morning, my wife," Ethan murmured.His voice sounded deep and raspy from sleep. He pulled the thick comforter over my shoulders, tugging me closer to his chest. His right arm slid around my waist, his warm palm resting flat against my ribs. I turned my head on the pillow, meeting his blue-gray eyes. The gold band on his left ring finger pressed against my skin."Good morning, Dr. Knight," I whispered. Ethan laughed softly against my cheek. "You can call me Ethan now, Mrs. Knight. The priest made it official yesterday in front of everyone.""Ethan," I repeated, letting the name settle on my tongue.He leaned forward, pressing a warm kiss onto the bridge of my nose, then another onto my forehead. His touch felt solid and steady. My left hand rested against his chest, right over the thick scar below his collarbone. The bullet wound had healed into a smooth, pink ridge. My fingers traced the edge of the mark, feeling the steady, rhythmic thump of his heart beneath my palm. "
~ Ivy ~"Your hands are warm today, Ivy," Maya whispers, smoothing the soft lace over my shoulders. I look down at my fingers. She speaks the truth. For years, my hands stayed cold like river stones, but today they feel warm and steady."Stop fussing with the lace, Maya," Lily says from her wheelchair, rolling a few inches closer on the wooden floor. She holds a small bundle of wild lilies in her lap. A light blanket covers her legs, hiding the bandage from her surgery, but her face has color again. "She looks like herself. That is the best part.""I am just making sure the hem hangs straight," Maya replies, stepping back with a wide grin. "Our girl is marrying the best and richest man in the city."I turn toward the small mirror on the wall of the chapel side room. The dress is simple ivory silk, sewn to fit my wide hips, my full waist, and my soft arms. It hugs my curves without pulling. I touch the silver comb in my hair, the one Lily gave me from our grandmother. My reflection sho
~ Ethan ~The elevator chime echoed like a gunshot through the empty sixth floor. Ivy gasped, her fingers digging through my dark coat sleeve, sinking into the muscle of my forearm. Her knuckles turned stark white. Her breath came in short, jagged gasps, rattling in her chest.I covered her trembling hand with my palm, holding her tight against my side. "Breathe with me, Ivy," I whispered, keeping my voice low and level. "Four seconds in. Four seconds out."She pressed her forehead against my shoulder, inhaling the scent of my wool coat. Her shoulders trembled under my arm. Two weeks ago, this hallway was filled with smoke, screams, and the copper stench of fresh blood. Today, the air smelled of industrial lemon cleaner and wet paint. The quiet felt heavy, like a trap waiting to snap shut. Ivy lifted her head. Her hazel eyes were wide, scanning the polished brass trim along the corridor walls."Tell me the truth, Ethan," Ivy said, her voice shaking. "Are you sure we are ready for this
~ Julian ~The brown folder slammed onto the steel table between us. The metal legs screeched against the bare floor, and the sound made my teeth ache."Sign the confirmation slip, Mr. Vance," the subpoena officer said. His name tag read Roland, and his eyes stayed cold. "You are officially served with the coroner's release and the final state findings." My hands shook as I reached for the cheap blue ballpoint pen. "Is this the report from the morgue?""Open it and see for yourself," Roland said, crossing his thick arms. "The state closed the file this morning."My thumb flipped the metal clip. The first page had a red stamp across the top: DECEASED. Underneath was Chloe's name. A small color photograph was stapled to the corner. Her blonde hair looked dirty and matted with street dust. Her neck sat twisted at a sharp, unnatural angle against the metal tray."Blunt force trauma from a six-story fall," I read out loud. My voice sounded dry, like paper scraping over stone. "She hit the
~ Ivy ~The medical monitor sounds a sharp, frantic alarm. The electronic beeps pierce the sterile quiet of the private recovery suite. My boots hit the linoleum floor with a heavy slap. The paper cup in my grip crushes flat, splashing lukewarm water across the bedside table.Lily’s body arches against the stiff hospital mattress. Her hands twist into the white cotton sheets, knuckles turning chalky white under the harsh fluorescent tubes. Her head thrashes against the thin pillow, blonde curls tangled with sweat and medical tape. "Lily," I call out, gripping the cold steel of the raised bed rail. "Lily, listen to my voice. Open your eyes."Her face carries a hollow, grayish tint. Thick layers of surgical gauze wrap tightly around her middle, holding together the jagged wound left by Chloe’s bullet. Below her ribs, the dark stain of surgical iodine colors her pale skin. A thin plastic cannula feeds oxygen into her nostrils, hissing with every shallow breath. A ragged gasp tears out of







