Chapter 2

That line from the memo, "leave something behind inside Eve's wedding dress," echoed over and over in my head until my temples ached.

After leaving the family dinner, I took a cab alone to our wedding home.

It was a red-brick apartment near the college's old library, with a view of an ivy-covered clock tower from the window. Adrian had once said that after we married, he'd come down from his study every day, cross through the mist and the chiming bells, and take my hand to go get the first coffee of the morning.

In the center of the dressing room hung the wedding gown he'd flown all the way to Europe to have hand-made by an old tailor.

Layer upon layer of white, studded with fine pearls, like a snowfall frozen in place.

I walked over and pulled back the dust cover.

Through the elaborate lace lining, I searched inch by inch.

Finally, on the most hidden inner side of the hem, I felt a spot that had been washed again and again until the fabric had stiffened.

The smell of detergent was strong, strong enough to suggest it had been scrubbed deliberately, many times over.

Yet it still couldn't cover that familiar scent of cedar.

It was the cologne Adrian had worn for years, cool and clean, like the wooden doors of a church on a snowy night.

Three months ago, Adrian had held this very gown and knelt on one knee before me.

When he looked up at me, his gray-blue eyes shone as if he'd caught hold of something.

"Eve, my world is too harsh. You're the only softness I want to protect with everything I have."

Now I saw it was all lies and deceit. Even the wedding gown between us had been nothing but a plaything to spice up their pleasure.

I let go, gathered up the gown, and turned to walk out of the apartment.

Half an hour later, I was standing outside the polar research center where Adrian worked.

He happened to be in a group meeting.

Through the slats of the blinds, I could clearly see him standing in the middle of the conference room, his face grave.

Dark suit, silver-rimmed glasses, cuffs fastened without a flaw, he looked like a judge stepped straight out of some classical academy portrait.

He threw Selena's lab report down on the long table, pages scattering across the floor.

"Falsified observation data. Selena, you're a disgrace to this entire academic community."

His voice carried out through the crack in the door, low and cold.

"If you don't finish rerunning all one hundred sample sets today, you stay here. No one is to plead for her."

He tore into her viciously, and the students around him were frozen silent, holding their breath.

When the meeting broke up, the students filed out one after another.

Adrian was the last to come out, and the moment he looked up, he saw me waiting outside.

The cold on his face melted away at once.

He walked quickly over, lowering his head out of habit to kiss my forehead, his eyes full of apology.

"I'm sorry, Eve. I was just so busy today, I couldn't go with you for the dress fitting."

Almost as a reflex, I turned my face away, and the nausea I'd pushed down surged up again.

His movement froze midair, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes.

I looked into his eyes, my voice soft but every word clear.

"The dress seems to have gotten dirty. There's a strange cologne smell in the lining."

I watched his face closely, not letting a single expression slip past me.

Adrian's expression darkened for an instant.

But he quickly lifted a smile so gentle it was flawless.

"Maybe the cleaner used some cheap incense. I'll have a brand-new one sent over tomorrow. My Eve shouldn't be frowning over something like this."

He reached out to slip an arm around my waist.

"I'll take care of it. Don't be upset."

I stepped back, avoiding his touch.

"No need. I'll handle it myself."

I turned and walked toward the end of the corridor.

At the corner, I stopped.

From the equipment room that should have been locked came a sudden, muffled sound.

Like a chair leg knocking against a metal cabinet door.

Right after came Selena's laugh, pitched low but brimming with provocation.

"Professor Hall, when you were scolding me just now, Eve was right outside listening, wasn't she?"

I stood where I was, listening to the suggestive murmurs behind that door, slowly tightening my grip on the gown in my hands.