ught Nicola was in the clear after the surgery,

was being so foolish, even mistakenly thin

cola's words, slapped h

rough the room, making Em

red and her tears fall like rain,

into an embrace, trying to soothe her. "I'm sorry, Nicola, I shouldn't have hit you

n Verena's shoulder, her

cola. Nicola had always been treated like a princess,

urge to intervene. She turned away, a sense of isolati

in the evening. Jenifer had left dinner for her, but she wasn't hungry

confused, watching her pack. "D

back to Ric

ost breaking with shock. "Ricky's hou

r finali

you mean

sign and told m

g to listen and go ba

with the decision all day and fin

a small one-she turned to Jenifer and said, "I've imposed

eally leaving

a

t me give y

es, grabbed her car key, and helped Emma with o

herself returning to Ricky's h

red through the window at the brightly lit m

silence, she unfastened her seat

de to greet her. As Emma opened the trunk to grab her suitcas

en a loyal servant to the Jenner family for many year

She wants to speak with you," he

wed Harold toward the garden in the bac

loved gardening, and Ricky had built a greenhouse garden

air. When she saw Emma walking up behind Harold, her face brightene

and approached, greeting

Emma sank into the wicker chair beside her, allowing Irene t

thought you'd have come back much earlier.

papers and left a month ago. Emma forced a smile, deciding to brush it of

cky have been married for two years now. Isn't

ll.

but I'm not getting any younger. I want to hold my grea

She and Ricky had been married for two ye

ntil eleven. After Irene retired for t

gs, laid out her pajamas, and drawn her

d and slid i

lavender bath salts, her favorite, filled the room with a s

d before she knew it, she

truggled, but she couldn't break free. Just as the water wa

as she gasped for breath, feeling a warm hand steadying the back of her

ly had slipped under the water, and

he withdrew his hand, his expression dark. He stood up, grab

red at him in shock. Ricky, still in

nter her room, let alone

re you

tossing the used towel aside and grabbing another one, which he thr

him today. After Ricky left the bathroom, she quickl

his fingers. When his eyes flicked to Emma, standing by the bed with her damp

figure-slender, but with soft

from the steam, making her appear almost like a shy, delicat

d looked at her this way, and for a mo

t of it with a sharp sting. He quickly stubbed it out, wa

artled by h

suit jacket, and casually tossed it asi

catch the faint scent of toba

re you

room before-what was going on to

s voice was steady as he slowly remo

at tightene

now what sh