h's

r all of us, I sat on the edge of the bed in the kids' roo

r bodies curling close to each other for warmth. I lea

and looked at me, his eyes too serious for a child his age. "Mom,

in my throat as I gripped the edge of the old mattress so hard my

e closely. "You couldn't eat at the table, Mom," she said in her tin

like he was putting pieces together and sa

child, but he

were warm, while mine were shaking. I pulled my

"Mommy was just meditatin

y happy, okay?" I muttered, staring at the floor. But they di

bove a whisper, "I have to go now. Put Lily to

ough his eyes

both on the forehead, stood

Ethan and Lily sai

softly, switched off the

each them. My back hit the door and I slid down to the floor, sobbing silently. My whole body was shaking. How could I explain to t

e sky is blue in the day and dark in the night..." He was telling Lily

ed my face slowly, once, then again, until my skin felt tight and dry. I drew in a deep breath through my

the bed, lying on his side, his back facing me

me so we could fall asleep together, his hand wrapped around mine. Not until he blamed my signature for his failed contract.

et that contract? The thought hurt so

really about?" I asked, but the room remained silent. Only the sound of the wind outside

uched his shoulder, and realized he was deeply asleep. He was snoring l

side me. Valerie Shawn's perfect smile, and the black car

rt began to ache again. It had the same name and the same code Valerie used to pay for the dresses at the boutique. I placed it

lift the lid, but it was locked with a code I didn't even know. That was t

y life, and I never imagined I would become a spy in m

to the floor, sat down, and began testing codes. I tried his birthday,

and stared at him for a few seconds. I stood up slowly, my heart slamming a

short, scared gasps, waited for minutes

one, dimmed the light,

code and it opened. My hands tremble

gain, and he was s

py photos of him in expensive hotels, drinking wine in clubs, and wearing suits that cost more than our apartment. I flipped through them until I reached the last one, and there it was. A picture of him an

poor Sean laying in my bed. Tears began dropping from my eyes. They fell onto the pho

box was a familiar

lly. I felt like I was going to fain

signature sat neatly at the bottom. I did sign it, but I remembered that day, he had told me my signature was needed... nothing serious, just for s

g through the file. I saw the name, Vesper Vant, my

CEO of her company, Apex group, five ye

ell, the position would be mine fully. But Sean had intercep

ive years, while I slaved away at Lumière House, my feet aching from standing all day. The pain

n on me then the worst thing happe

room. I looked up, frozen. Sean was sitting up on the