ur Hayes, a man who once commanded boardrooms and held the city's elite in the palm of his hand, was now reduced to a photograph and a handful of whispers. Mos

. All that remained was a profound, hollow numbness. After the service, the guests began to file out, but Chloe remained anchored to the casket.

church creaked open, cuttin

ir and Janet

n his shoulder. They were a portrait of devoted companionship, an

ts leaving bloody marks. How dare they? Were they here to

a mask of perfectly calibrated sorrow. "Chloe," she whispered, her eye

ce flawless. "You mustn't be too sad. After... after this is all over,

on. Take care of you. Like a stray animal they'd magnanimously

as if he were a disinterested spectator. His presence alone sucked the air from t

er voice trembling slightly. "He wanted to see you and

s. "My father's greatest wish," she said, her voice low but carrying clea

e. "Are you here to make sure he's really dead? So you can e

ke a fragile doll. "That's not what I meant, Chloe, how could you think that o

uldn't be able to rest in peace knowing you were here. Whether it was a misunde

nce. "That's enough, Chloe. This is not the place. Your father did as

ears of marriage, he had never once shown her father that basic respe

door. The whisper escalated into a raw, ragged scream that

shocked by the outburst. The sanc

, Julian's arm tightened around her, pulling her protectively into his embrace. He shot Chloe one last loo

itate. He did

ve out, and she sank to her knees on the cold stone floor, clutching the edge of her father's cask