เข้าสู่ระบบMARY'S POV:"Rights." She laughed again, and the others joined in. "You don't have rights in here, sweetheart. You have us. And we haven't decided what to do with you yet."My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my temples, in my throat, in the tips of my fingers. But I didn't move. I didn't look away. I had learned, years ago, that animals could smell fear. And these women, they were animals."I'm not here to cause trouble," I said. "I just want to sit quietly until my lawyer arrives.""Your lawyer." The woman with braids slid off the bench and walked toward me, her hips swaying in a way that felt performative, mocking. "Listen to her. She thinks she's getting out of here.""The cops put you in here with us for a reason," the tall one said. She was close enough now that I could smell her, cigarettes and sweat and something sour underneath. "Someone wanted you here. Someone paid for you to be here."I shook my head. "That's not—""You think this is an accident?" She gestured
MARY'S POV:The door slammed shut behind me, and the sound echoed off the concrete walls like a gunshot.I stood in the middle of the cell, my arms wrapped around myself, my eyes adjusting to the dim fluorescent light that flickered overhead. The floor was gray concrete, stained in places I didn't want to look at too closely. The walls were the same, gray, cold, covered in scratches and markings left by people who had been here before me. A metal bench bolted to the wall. A toilet without a seat with a sink that dripped.And the others.There were four of them. Women, but not like any women I had ever been in a room with. They wore matching orange jumpsuits, the jumpsuits they gave to people who had been convicted and not just detained. Their hair was matted, their eyes hard, their bodies covered in tattoos that snaked up their arms and necks like vines.Gang members. I had seen enough news reports to recognize the symbols, the postures, the way they looked at me like I was prey.This
MARY'S POV:The officers let me ride in the back with her, on the way to Marilyn's. Elowen didn't cry. She didn't speak. She just held my hand and stared out the window, and I watched her small face in the reflection and wondered if she would ever forgive me for this.Marilyn was waiting on the front porch when we arrived. She took Elowen's hand without a word, without a hug and even without asking any questions. Elowen looked back at me once, her eyes wide and scared, and then she disappeared inside the house.I got back in the police car.The drive to the station was silent.~~~~~~~The interrogation room was cold.Although it wasn't that freezing, but cold enough that I could see my breath when I exhaled. The walls were pale gray, the floor was linoleum, the table was metal and bolted to the ground. A single camera stared down from the corner of the ceiling, its red light blinking.I sat in the chair and waited.Officer Delgado came in first, followed by another officer I hadn't me
MARY'S POV:I tried again but nothing. Again and once again, nothing.His phone was unreachable, or he was ignoring me, or he had turned it off entirely. I didn't know which was worse.I stared at my phone, my thumb hovering over his name, and I felt something cold settle into my stomach. He wasn't coming. He wasn't answering. He was out there somewhere, maybe with her, while I was here trying to protect our daughter from the consequences of his choices.I put the phone down and walked back to the living room.Elowen was still on the couch, still wrapped in the blanket, still staring at the television. But her eyes were glassy, unfocused, and I knew she wasn't really watching."Mommy," she said, her voice small. "Who were those people?""Nobody, baby. Just some people who made a mistake.""Why did they shout at you?"I knelt down in front of her and took her hands. They were cold, even in mine."Because sometimes people believe things that aren't true," I said. "And sometimes they get
MARY'S POV:My hands were shaking on the steering wheel.Elowen was curled up in the passenger seat beside me, her small body pressed against the door, her purple backpack still strapped to her shoulders. She had stopped crying somewhere between the driveway and the corner, but her face was still wet, her eyes still wide, her breath still coming in short, hitching gasps that made my chest ache.I couldn't look at her. If I looked at her, I would fall apart. And I couldn't fall apart. Not yet. Not until we were safe.The car was still in the garage. The garage door was still open. I had made it to the driver's seat, had gotten Elowen inside, had my keys in the ignition—A knock on the window. It was loud and violent. A fist slamming against the glass so hard that the whole car shuddered.I turned my head slowly, my heart pounding somewhere in my throat, and I saw him. A man. Middle-aged, maybe, though it was hard to tell through the distortion of the window and the adrenaline flooding
ALISTAIR POV:I held a private party for Vesper that day.It was not public. The reporters were still crazily following her around, camping outside hotels and restaurants, printing lies about the two of us. So I kept it small. A rented penthouse overlooking the city, a few close friends, good champagne with soft music to go with.But once things calmed down, once the world moved on to the next scandal, I planned to throw her an even grander party. The type of party that people talked about for years. Something worthy of her.Vesper arrived in a silver dress that caught the light like water. Her hair was pinned up, her neck bare except for a thin gold chain. She looked like something out of a dream."You did all of this for me?" she asked, her voice soft and warm."All of this and more," I said.She smiled, and I felt that warmth spread through my chest.The evening passed in a blur of laughter and champagne. I watched her move through the room, watched her charm my friends, watched he
ELIJAH'S POV:Someone had hurt her. I'd seen the hair. The way her phone was thrown. The open car door.She'd fought. I knew she had. Hannah wouldn't go quietly.The thought made my chest feel like it was caving in.Police sirens had started approaching from every direction within minutes. Red and
HANNAH’S POV: Thankfully. the traffic was merciful that evening. I arrived at Elijah’s office building earlier than expected, the sky painted in soft hues of gold as the sun began to set. I pulled into the parking lot, stepping out with excitement already fluttering in my chest. My phone rang ins
HANNAH'S POV: TWENTY HOURS LATER:"Wake up, you stupid bitch!"Those were the first words I heard, and before I could process them, ice-cold water slammed into my face. The shock of it stole the air from my lungs completely. I gasped violently, choking as my body jerked forward on pure instinct. M
HANNAH’S POV:My throat tightened painfully with emotion. I had to blink back tears.A waiter appeared then, perfectly timed, and began serving us. The food was incredible, course after course of beautifully plated dishes that tasted even better than they looked. But honestly, I barely tasted any o







