y disappearance was merely an inconvenience. He stood there, in my tiny, foul-smelling room, in his

urned a ghost, celebrated a lie. The sheer audacity of it, the sickening irony, made my stomach c

atures. "It's been seven years, Elise. Katherine and I... we've been together all this time." He gestured vaguely towards Katherine, who stood

irectly. "Are you finished?" My voic

e. They both looked startled, clearly expecting a different reaction. Katherine'

spered, her voice hoarse, "I j

e slick, heavy card felt alien in my calloused palm. "We know you were a brilliant lawyer, Elise. I have my own firm now. You can work for

. "Let's not make things difficult, Elise. For anyone."

r her shoulder. "Annamarie misses you, too,"

l

cramped room, cutting off Katherine's words, sealing her out. I didn't

aw. A successful man, built on my ruin. With a slow, deliberate motion, I tore it in half,

wasn't enough, not for what they took from me. Not for what they had done. Seven years had passed, but the w

help anymore. I ju