was dark when Arlan

cast long, skeletal shadows across the living room floor. Isolde wa

eeped, and the hea

g crookedly around his neck, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up.

t switch. The sudden b

saw her. "Isolde? Why are

a mix of hospital antiseptic and heavy, cloying gardenia. Emilie's perfume. It was

ning. He seemed to be bracing himsel

is voice was rough, defensive. "She couldn't breathe.

that made Arland's breath catch. "It doesn't matter," she said, her voice slicing through the room with freezing precision

xcuses, a dozen logical reasons why his duty to the Blackburn

slightly unsettled. "I knew you would. You're always so reasonable, Isolde. T

d mid-air. He seemed to remember the invisible wall between them, the o

t. B

t wasn't a normal notification soun

the screen, and his face tightened. The exhaustion

turning away. "She's asking for me. Sh

ready moving toward the door, his bo

if he were a complete stranger. "Don'

icker of guilt crossing his handsome face. "I'll be back

," sh

he door clicked shut, the sound echoing

ere he had been standing, realizing that the man she loved didn't exist. He was

t was a stranger. And sh

at exactly 9:00 AM

lack blouse and trousers, her hair pulled back into a sever

nt, stood in the hallway. He looked impeccable in his grey

and polite. He held out a rectangular velvet box. "Mr. Rhodes

ide without opening it. Arland had a habit of s

necklace," Simon added when she didn't

t box. "Tell Arland if he wants to apologize, he can wire c

or when he was coming home. Her lack of questions seemed to unnerve him

said. "Have

the door

the past year-a bracelet from when he missed her gallery opening, a pair of earrings from when he forgo

hone

. It was a text from an unknown

ing from it. In the corner of the frame, a man's hand was visible, resting

this for me. He's so protective. He says the hospit

t. He had never cooked for her. Not once. When she had the flu last wint

deleted the message

olde arrived at S

ment with a neurologist for the migraines that had been

er head down as she navigated the sterile white corrid

the VIP wing, sh

ed. She knew

voice boomed down the hallway. "She needs the

large concrete pillar. S

ng over a terrified head nurse. His face was red

cupied by a heart transplant

If you don't move them within the hour, I will pull the Rhod

he looked pale, wrapped in a cashmere blanket, clut

red, loud enough to be heard.

own, wrapping his arms around her. "You are never a burden, Em. I pr

nger; it was the passion. He was fighting for Emilie. He was willing to b

merely sent an assi

oked past Arland's shoulder, directly a

de f

widened slight

rk tugged at the corner of Emilie's mouth. She didn't alert Arland. In

..." sh

, his attention solely on

t not out of heartbreak. It was evidence. She didn't stay for her appointmen

he automatic doors sliding open to t

?" the dr

paused, then corrected

and dialed a number she h

and Moving," a

said, watching the city blur past the window. "Antique

a slot.

he felt a strange sensation in her chest. The pain was stil

ar