partment. The heavy stench of cheap floral perfume and

ing room sofa, blowing on her freshly painted red nails. B

d a table at a fancy steakhouse. Go put on t

teady. She walked straight to the scratched coffee table. She unzipped her bag, pulled

ck echoed in

ed, picking up the paper. Her eyes scanned the

e hell is this? Is this a joke?" her v

inching. "I'm married. The d

mottled, ugly red. The finder's fee she was supposed

Her sharp nails dug vic

d, shaking Ayla's arm. "What does h

ack violently. She ru

"There is no money. There is no dowry

to gasoline. Brenda let out a

er at Ayla's face. "You threw away a rich man for a broke

ut of the bedroom, wearing wrinkled pajamas. He l

a, his eyes full of sorrow and fear. "Ayla...

ther. Her chest ached

ife, Leo," Ayla said, her voice c

your trash out of my house! If you're marr

'm packing right now. I wou

om in a fit of rage. She stormed back into her be

ick and suffocating. Leo looked at the floor, hi

box. He dug through a pile of receipts and pulled out a crumpled p

t was a check for o

Her throat closed up. "Leo, no. Yo

se over the paper. His voice was a thick, wet whisper. "Take

neck and hugged him tightly. A hot tear slipped down

ed the sheets off the narrow bed. She grabbed two old cardboard boxes and shoved her clothes

p breath to steady her racing heart. She pu

times befor

silent. A hollow, echoing quiet that sounded like a mass

busy? I need to move my boxes. If y

wo-second pau

nutes," Drake's deep voice

stared at the blank wall, her stomach twisting with a