eflection in the mirror and saw a faint smile on her lips. It was the first time she had seen herself smile in a long time. The weight that had been p

ough. As she stepped out of her car, she saw Sophia standing on the porch, talking animatedly with Liam' s mother. Sophia was holding a b

m's mother. It's a first-edition book she's been wanting." She held up the box, a c

e early years of the marriage, Sophia would 'accidentally' leave a lipstick in Liam's car or 'forget' a scarf at the house. They were little territorial markings, constant reminder

sence is the gift." She didn't have the energy for these games anymore. Not when freedom was so close. The s

Sophia's arm. "Sophia, that's enough." Then he turned to Ava, his expression a mixture of apology and weariness. He started to raise his hand, perhaps to tou

ve and had stumbled, splashing the hot liquid all over her arm. Liam, the trauma surgeon, immediately swit

n on her mother-in-law's arm. She saw Liam's focused expression as he worked. And she saw Sophia, hovering at his side, handing him gauze, their h