t make

Julian, from Chloe, from Mrs

room, past the glittering chand

lt lighter t

my hot face. I hailed a cab, not t

held an account Julian ha

his lawyers draft it. I signed it without much thought

onthly allowance that mostly accumulat

as for my "p

would keep me tied t

ed it would be

nt, enough to start over, eno

ed the cab to

. I was a familiar, if periph

st, and cold. Filled with ex

es. Clothes, a few books, some small, senti

lian collected, the view of the city that a

Just a qui

The Sterling estate on Long Island, where Fi

d to se

re, as alway

he door, her expression a

didn't mention

Finn," I said,

ust about to have his nap."

be q

yr to my inconveni

a room larger than any I'

set of wooden blocks,

n I entered. No

honey,"

ards his grandmother w

all. He got up and walked tow

ietary hand on his should

r cond

s was their doing. They had systematical

ndmother. He barely

ulian and Seraphina anym

abou

p. "I und

t want to force an affection he

erted face was se

my resolve. It

s much as for me. Maybe on

Sterling estate wi

n, but for the first time i