y stayed by his side, her hand gripping his. Sarah, her wrist in a cast, met with Ms.

ll-documented. We'll file immediately. The identity and relocation services your father astutel

ce flat, "I go back. I act normal

could spook him, and men like Ethan Hayes.

ew. Oh,

o a gilded cage. Ethan was absent, likely tending to Tiffany or so

with a qui

in Ethan's bold, arrogant script. Photographs of them smiling, a lifetime ago, before h

estate. She walked the grounds to the grove of ancient oak trees, the ones Ethan had grandl

erfectly healthy, magnificent trees. "A dange

e tagged them with bright orange ribbons. The sound

e found theirs easily – a heavy brass padlock engraved E+S Forever. Using a pair of bolt cutters she'd bought from a hardware store, she snipp

Tiffany, looking pale but artfully so, clung to his

his eyes. "Tiffany had a rather... stressful experience. A severe s

m sure it was just a misunderstan

to her," Ethan sta

Tiffany, then

wer lip trembled. "Oh, Ethan, it's

," Ethan repeated,

. "I have nothing

d to Tiffany, his expression softening instantly. "There, there, sweet girl. Don

iffany cooed, nuzzling th

Sarah had learned the hard way when she'd once suggested a rescue cat,

. His priorities were clear. She was an inconvenie

ny found Sarah in the living room, staring out at the cit

earlier fragility gone, replaced by a smug confidence.

wly. "Is that wh

ous. He dotes on me. He bought Snowball for me be

calm. "Then you can

nked, surpr

guely at the opulent surroundings. "The penthouse,

ffany's face, quickly masked by sus

said. "I'm tired.

r eyes. She picked up a steaming mug of designer coffee – a

cried out, stumb

o the floor, but directly onto her own pristine white sil

s! Sarah, you..

y, his face a mask of fury.

she attacked me, Ethan! She threw hot coffee on

hard, fell on Sarah.

id, her voice steady despite the trem

" he roared. "I h

Maybe... maybe I just tripped. I'm so clumsy sometimes. The cameras, they'll show... but please, let

ng her hair. "Of course, my sweet girl. You're too good. Too for

g into her flesh, the one not in a cast.

reinforced door of the large, walk-in wine cellar. It was alwa

e. "A day in here s

he lock clicking into place, p

loor, the chill see

r. "This is our safe room, Sarah," he'd said, smiling, drawing her close

a

from the cold. The ir