r felt so certain about

leather chair of Le Marais, the most exclusive restaurant in th

at used to make his whole world stop. Freya had been his best friend since the

him. He knew that.

er fingers wrapped around his, h

thought. But that's

pered, squeezing his hand.

miled. "I'm gl

lt happy. He want

tubborn knot sit in h

-

artley thinking time

e uninvited, a

tary asleep beside him, and every news site in the country screaming about the affai

play his fiancée for a few weeks. It wa

told him she

r time. He wasn't ready for a child. He wasn't ready for a wi

had found out before h

dam Hartwell with the news. And Madam Hartwell, who had waite

I will cut you

d he had agreed. He told himself he could learn

. She's lying, Lucas. There's no baby.

He had thought she was j

iscarriage

l of antiseptic, the doctor's careful voice. I'

in him h

d. She planned this. First the fake pregnancy, now

her, and all he h

asier th

months, he had killed it himself. He had turned cold. He had stayed away. And Eve had kept smi

ead. Freya was home.

ry reason

lted her head. "Y

ok off the thou

-

ed her invitation to come up, and headed to the Gold Ro

hol, but tonight, he wanted something to

c Reyes, tall and calm, swirling a glass of whiskey. Callum Pierce, loud

tle of vodka and dr

raising his glass. "

le

ed. "You're actually

or casual. "I gave her the papers tonigh

, man. Eve's always been good to you. Hones

ould answer. "She's been holding him back for years. This is th

exchanged a glanc

s dr

all day. He had imagined this moment for mont

didn'

, every joke, every laugh. He pushed it down. Once it's over, I'll feel fine,

lub a little

-

rk when he pulled

light on for him. Even on the nights he came home at three i

the porch

. The front door was unlocked. He pus

ve

oice

red-eyed and desperate, ready to beg again. He had even

ving room

om, though the candles had been blown ou

ld crept dow

called. "Wh

ria had alread

nd strode down the hallway to the mas

stop

empty, and the half that remained held only the expensive c

yes landed

on the white sheets. And resting on top of

eddin

heart

break. He picked up the papers. Her signature was there

ad si

tually

cling to his ankles the way she always did. He had only meant to scare he

expected

d and stared at the ring in his pa

said aloud. "This is what yo

nce didn

es missing from the walls. The flowers gone from the vase. Her perfume, the

she had never l

oes i

st felt hollow, scraped out. He pr

I should

eath the emptiness, something worse wa

gr

-

phone and dia

have dialed i

again. A

reac

he muttered

y a church in a small town. She had no close friends, because she had

d the thought sent ice through

he knew it, keys in hand,

ng the departure boards, scanning faces in the terminal until his eyes burned. He dr

th

king lot of the airport, gripping

had vanished

-

ew days we

adsheets he couldn't read, letting calls go to voicemail, snapping at an

favorite chair by the window. Her mug in the cabinet. The small kitchen

w much of her was in ev

turning a page. Every

treated her

droom floor with her wedding ring in his fist, Lu

n't ha

never h

ng that the woman who waited up for him every night, who learned his favorite dishes, who stood by

r away for a girl wh

ll lo

d like a punch

ove with

to his feet. His h

give up.

e and dialed a numb

picked up. His voice was unsteady.

was silent for a beat.

ave." Lucas squeezed his eyes

... w

der, every hospital, every record. Just find her and bring

" Mr. Brooks said. "I'll repo

ne wen

phone and stared

fool. A blind,

g in his palm, that when he found her, if she would ever l

ev