f the document blurred

E AGRE

es on the dining table had almost burned out, leaving po

ol

nis

giving her time to read. Or perhaps givi

owly turned t

ad already be

on of

tiality

r of pr

al sett

een carefully drafted

ept one... Already bore

to discuss their future

lanned

etly. Adrian d

team to prepare ev

gift. While she had been choosing flowers. While she had been believi

was never a

about inf

rossed Adri

want to li

ooked

lready

eavier than any argument. Finally, Adrian reach

ansfer documents for t

ve the settlement

ancial adviser to make s

the divorce

d you

want you

n't abou

o.

et hi

about d

wned sl

ave to start ove

e appeared o

I'll have

that evening, Adr

o'clock. An hour until midnight. Vivian quietly en

a hotel

aid s

wait t

h an expression that al

one day you'l

eld her

stand

eople aren't meant

smile

rhap

e courage to leave before invitin

e turned toward the front door. A moment later, t

ked up his

drive

dded. "Of

hesi

come

iversary cake. At the flowers she had carefully arranged

be anything l

nutes later, the front

.. Elena remained in the dining room for a

the tab

y one. Each small flame dis

ut just as the clock s

o the room. Her eyes la

on changed i

Kingsl

aged a sm

all r

Carter's vo

isn

three years to this family. She had seen

. She had also seen Elena d

Carter whispered. Elena looked

isn't the same as be

oulder before quietly leaving. The

fifty

The divorce agreement lay open on

mages flooded her mi

they shared before mo

d awake helping him o

kfast that never happened becaus

ng that hurt more tha

ast time Adrian had looked

he only one trying to k

d silently d

before it could f

he whispered

g for a place in

She signed her name.

ied almost

e. One... Two... Three... Twelve slo

hat exact moment, the lights of Adrian's car disap

m had finally ended. Elena closed t

d on the desk. An

it. Instead, she

e voice spoke from the o

is Willi

ingsley's personal attorne

? "I've been instructed to contact you the m

aighter. "I'm s

nued in the same

efly before correcting

our former grandfather

inal instructions..." "