taring at Adrian. "I t

ther asked me to make su

you to make

n remained ca

ser

d me for

odded. "A

hought that was the end of it. Th

ere's not going to b

ll s

ed. "There's n

away. I didn't wait until he reached the elevator. I sla

re. My grandfather was dead. My mother had decided who I was going to marry.

I looked at the

ll ended. A message app

r: Ca

you send Adria

screen. Another

fficult, Caleste. You and

the engagement than the fact that I had just buried my gran

nal

been dead for l

kno

ou already plan

ndfather left the

a company. N

t family, you may no

s. "Is that all

't about

rse it

les

eed

n't hav

For a moment, ne

uietly, "Good

ste,

nally returned to me. But instead of relief, all I could

ords hurt more than anyt

had never told me he loved me. The problem wasn't Sam. The problem was me. I had spent fiv

s. Most were from my mother. I deleted them without reading. Then I got dressed and went to work.

y with coffee cups and phones pressed against their ears. The screens display

day. Yet the world kept moving. I walked t

ion desk, talking to one of the junior analysts.

iately brighte

et to keep mov

face. Then his smile fa

away. "

him and picked u

at it.

t this

his when you have

he cup.

me for anot

ld've sta

ave

ave a funer

red look. "That

small smile tug

smiled ba

figures checked before the afternoon meeting. I already went thro

ded it

t the folder. "

t ni

it after driving

e supposed to review

s ago, Vance had assigned Sam to mentor m

er treated me like an inexperienced heiress. He taught me. Argued with me. Corrected

me with the same patient expre

Vance at eleven," he contin

handl

iled. "I'm sitt

row. "Still tryi

d you still ne

aughed. "T

ha

oying con

re we

e office. I followed him. Ha

at som

wil

He smiled and disappe

didn't know he was breaking my heart. He was si

already lost