finalized, to maintain her legal standing. So she moved into the guest room at the far end of the spra

cept this new, bizarre arrangement. He came and w

s always

a where Olivia used to sit. She would hear their laughter echoing from the dining r

ared. They treated Olivia with a cold, formal politeness that was worse than open

"Liv, you have to get out

her voice hollow. "The final papers will

y? You sound

self out, leaving behind a strange, quiet clarity. She watched Ethan and Sophia as if they

ned her for years, had died. She had mourned i

ed in, draped in a new necklace of glittering diamonds. It was ostentatious and

letting the diamonds catch the light. "Ethan

d. She just filled h

ce laced with malice. "For my birthday. He's reserved the roya

looked at Sophia, her eyes empty of any

on she wanted. She wanted tears. She wanted a f

flailing out. Her glass of red wine went flying, splash

lutching her ankle. "My a

orted in a mask of pain. "Olivia, why wo

on the floor, crying, and the red wine staining her blouse. He di

at Olivia, his fa

l did you do?

a said calmly. "She spilled t

loor. "She pushed me! She's been

Sophia might be lying. He saw what he wanted to see: Olivi

via, his voice low and dangerous. "I want

via up for dinner, walked in at that exact

tepping between Ethan and Olivia. "Ethan,

warned. "This is between me and

this," Emily said, turning t

feigning tears on the floor. She saw the truth with perfect clarity. It wasn't abo

ed to b

iet but firm. "I will not apolo

do as I say. Or I will make you."

ed at the kitchen entrance, drawn by the c

ivia asked, a strange, sad

him. Not for Sophia. But for herself. It was an act of final surrender, not to him, but to the reali

s. This wasn't the victory he had expected. Her dignity was

ze," he

am sorry," she said, her voice clear and devoid

opped. She stared at Olivi

e apology any

and grabbed Olivia's arm, hauling

d of security, who had just entered. "Take her to the disc

e room? Ethan, you can't be

triumphant Sophia into his arms. "Let's get that ankle looked at, my love," he

Olivia. Emily tried to block them

t the back of the man she had once loved, the man who was now