1

That evening, Sienna suggested cooking steak at our place.

She knew her way around our kitchen. She took out the cast-iron skillet, then dug the sea salt out of the fridge door.

"Ethan, your sauce is still the best."

Ethan rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen. "Two spoonfuls of butter. Go easy on the black pepper. You only want a hint."

Sienna smiled, her eyes crinkling. "You still remember."

I sat at the dining table, my fingers slowly curling into fists.

Three years ago, he'd also remembered that I didn't eat parsley, and he'd always fixed my plate before his own.

Now he mixed two small dishes of sauce. He handed one to Sienna and kept the other for himself.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "What about mine?"

He glanced at the clock. "Everything's in the cabinet. Make your own. Sienna's been hungry all night. I'm doing hers first."

He cooked the first piece of wagyu just the way Sienna liked it, sliced it, and put it on her plate.

Grilled shrimp, fish, asparagus. Whatever she liked, he served her.

I looked down and squeezed hot sauce onto my roasted vegetables. The heat from the skillet made my eyes sting.

Ethan frowned and took the bottle away. "Not so spicy. Your stomach will hurt tonight."

Sienna laughed. "If Nora's stomach hurts, she's got you to take care of her, doesn't she?"

"She should know her own limits."

He didn't even look at me.

He'd said it so casually, as if a few words were all he owed me as a husband.

Just then, the orchestra administrator called.

The concertmaster had been injured. There would be an internal audition the next morning, and whoever played best would take the solo that weekend.

In five years with the orchestra, this was my first chance to compete openly for a solo.

I held back my excitement. "I have rehearsal at seven tomorrow morning, so I need to practice tonight. The guest room is right next to the music room. Sienna, you should go home after dinner."

Sienna looked hurt. "It's raining out, and I didn't drive."

"You can take a cab."

Ethan's face darkened. "She can stay one night. You can practice anytime."

"Not this time," I said, my voice shaking a little. "I've waited five years for this chance."

Sienna's eyes filled with tears at once. "Never mind, I'll get a hotel. It's just that I've had insomnia lately. I probably won't be able to sleep alone somewhere unfamiliar."

Ethan wiped a spot of sauce off her sleeve. "You're staying in the guest room."

Then he looked at me impatiently. "Nora, don't take your work stress out on our guest."

I stared at the diamond bracelet on Sienna's wrist.

Two months ago, he'd said he was choosing a gift for a client and asked me which bracelet looked best.

So it hadn't been for a client. It had been for her.

Sienna reached for my hand. "Nora, I'll wear earplugs. I won't bother you."

I snatched my hand away, on the verge of tears.

Ethan saw that and set down his knife and fork, his face cold. "It's a small thing. Why are you making a big deal out of it again?"

I looked at him, my eyes burning. "So my work doesn't matter, but anything involving her does? Do you even remember whose husband you are?"

All he said was, "Sienna's parents aren't around. It's only right that I look out for her. You knew how close we were before you married me."

I opened my mouth, but in the end I said nothing.

I picked up the still-empty plate in front of me and took it to the kitchen.

At 11 p.m., the music room door swung open.

Ethan stood there with a glass of water. "Stop playing. Sienna just fell asleep."

"My audition is tomorrow." I gripped my bow, my voice already breaking. "Ethan, can't you put me first, just once?"

He fell silent for a moment. Then he reached over and switched off the light anyway.

"She doesn't sleep well. Try to be understanding."

Before the room went dark, I saw that he was still wearing his wedding ring.

But when he turned to go, he headed for the guest room where Sienna was staying.

I stood rooted to the spot as my tears finally spilled onto the strings.