on with Clara at a dimly lit jazz bar, Alia pushed t

expensive wax fill her lungs. She tossed her car keys into the silver t

. It was Christy's high-pitched gigg

the skin on Ali

ofa immediately. He walked toward her, his arms wide open, his fa

s arms around

oral perfume clung to the lapel of his suit. It mixed with

forced her hand to lift, patting him twice

lia up and down, her eyes lingering o

m the mahogany coffee table. She slapped them dow

was sharp. "Three years and this house is s

ochures advertised high-end IVF clini

nsation spread th

ou are a machine for Legatum Designs. You

cart. He poured a glass of re

at Alia. "But she has a point, honey. Maybe you should cut

wine. She saw Jerel's hand f

ot take t

rel?" Alia asked. Her voice was l

ine spilled onto the carpet. He quickl

to the window for a fraction of a second befo

at, thick and bitter. She stood up str

omorrow morning," Alia said. "I a

She slammed her manicured

y yelled. "The Tucker family needs a

cutting through the room like a blade. "I will

eached out and grabbed Alia

lm down,"

rm back so hard h

. She turned her back on them

porcelain hitting the floor. Christy was

he pushed the door shut and turned the

ood. She opened her mouth and dragged i

y shirt, every pair of pants, every tie Jerel had touched that week off the hangers

o cold. She cupped the freezing water in her hands and splashed

y. She opened her laptop and typ

wser. She logged into a

end private investigator she had u

card statements, hotel bookings, real esta

hit

ookshelves, the hardwood floors. She had paid for every single inch of thi

teeth ached. They were not