any floor of his study. 'Alfred,

ir,' Alfred replied, his voice calm and collected amidst the storm of Dashiell's impatience. 'But I do requir

et to the point, Alfred,' he snapped. 'Tell me everything you know about

find a live-in nurse for you, I went to an agency which specialised in providing such services. Mrs Kellan

d probably be disappointed to learn about the divorce. Especially con

n back. But she either lost her phone or threw it away, and I don't know where she coul

d on him-he knew so little about the woma

rther jab. 'Perhaps you'll find the information you're looki

it to Dashiell. It contained Elodie's qualificatio

onse was immediate and disheartening: 'The nu

himself, typing a curt message asking Elodie to call him. It bounced

anished into thin air, leaving him with nothing but a handf

lk to that agency which recommended Elodie. Find out eve

I'll get to it r

orrow. Now I need you to get

ut with a resounding thud that spoke volumes about his opinion o

*

s, cast a soft glow on Dashiell and Selene. The air hummed with gentle chatter and

awed at him, a persistent

he bustling city with pockets as empty as her room, was an easy target. The woman was undeniab

e of the mysterious million dollars found in her room – he wouldn't be in this predic

table, her touch a gentle counterpoint to the tumult within him

xpression a mask of nonchala

lips as she sighed. 'Dashiell,' she began, her voice a silken thread weaving arou

't confirm, nor deny, the truth. His mother's disdain for Selene was an open book, a constant thorn in his side. He c

to Miriam?' Selene continued. 'Perhaps

pontaneous combustion. He imagined the sparks flying, the verbal daggers drawn, and the ensuing hur

him whiplash. He couldn't let this happen. The potential fallout w

er than he felt. 'I'm sure sh

ointment that Dashiell, in his self-absorption, failed t

the young nurse was undeniable. Perhaps, through Elodie's gentle persuasion, Miriam's h

found it increasingly ha

colate mousse adorned with a single, glistening st

all she came up with was chocolate an

face

onstructed illusion, a dream of a proposal that was rap