r dress, biting into her skin. Seraphina wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and took

Her fingers brushed past the extra towels and the cleaning sup

a month ago. Just

he foil wrapper made a crinkling sound t

lastic stick on the edge of the sink and pulled o

he toilet and watched the seco

ond was a

in her hand. It

down from the top of the screen.

n. She knew she shouldn't look. She knew

s a p

of the sheets, a man's hand was holding a woman's hand. The man wore a platinum watc

ption: Thank you for

he timing. Julian had left her apartment ten minutes ago. He was already

one went off. A che

d up and looke

nes. Bold.

as pr

ded like a sob. It was the cruelest joke. On the night her husband e

flat stomach. No

Would he stay out of duty? Would he resent the child for keeping him from

imagined Harper, with her Vintage Red l

o

box. She grabbed the ultrasound appointment

trash can. The cleaning staff came tomorrow morning. If they f

bundle. Then she shoved it deep into her purse. She would dispose of it in a public tra

was still pounding against the glass. She sl

out into the storm and let the wind take them. The wet cardboard turned to

ked it. Her hands were shak

her face. She looked at herself in the mirror. The w

phone and dialed

e rang f

epy voice an

e, she said. Her voice was steady, st

re awake now. What's

ant, Serap

end. Oh my god. That's... wait

id. And he never will. We sig

. That bastard! H

pointment, Z

ntment f

te it, Ser

d over the line.

. Are you sure? You

ff. I cannot bring a child int

hina could hear the tremor in it. I can get you in tomorrow morning.

u, Serap

bedroom. She pulled a suitcase

the jewelry. She packed jeans. T-shirts. The cashmere sweater her mother had k

ed the b

of keys to the penthouse-the heavy brass key, the

rom Julian's executive assistant.

n the power button on the side of her

her hands wrapping protectively around her stomach one last time. A s