ords hung in t

ge cystic

alm. Months, he'd said. May

mages of her lungs,

e thought was i

ha

y overlooking Jackson Square,

ring caught the

family influential, he

rchitect, his life m

d from the chaos

firm, a sleek modern

mile for Sophia, who

ce was flat, d

ing the faded jeans, the paint under her nail

Sophia's tone was polite, but h

Ethan said. "Ava, this is

a smile.

an. "I need to ta

e remembered the sto

busy,

ur father. Jul

rdened. He knew that

ading Ava to a small,

ant?" he asked

ion she had, details of Julian Sr.'s corrupt rea

id. "You help me with somet

ou with

s of installatio

er. "You're bl

intense. She needed this, this fina

t pressed down on them as they scouted a

thick with u

his mother, Eleanor, her mind shattering afte

for Eleanor's public breakdow

er forgi

er, you know. Eleanor. Wrote t

ure you did." He

ouldn't face her

in the Marigny, a place

her name. "Av

now with haunted eyes and track marks hidden by long

Long

talking fast about

Thought maybe you could

l there, but it wa

whispers of her mother's involvement i

Things are...

"Too good for us no

. "Come on, Ava. D

g attention. People we

arm away. "Leav

rsh sound. "Stil

ut money she supposedly owed

. "That's Ava Sharma, yo

miliar burn of

alf-hidden in sha

He saw the scene,

he'd always believed a

, then turned and walked out, Leo's ta