as Arvin walked back inside, his

tone casual, a hint of accusa

t my old orphanage director," he rep

nd her attention was once agai

e years, this room had been his sanctuary and his prison. He stared at the ceiling, not with a

kfast, Jorja pushed her p

le," she said, wr

plate. "I bought it from that litt

it yesterday, knowing it would be a day old this morning. It was a small, petty act of rebel

iety and anticipation. Arvin knew what she was waiting for. She was waiting for a text from Cale, co

ting up her features in a way Arvin hadn't seen directed at him in years. The s

his chair and pulled out a manila folder. He had prepared this months ago,

d it on

ice calm and steady. "We

mbs flying across her screen as sh

expected this. For five years

e her, sliding it across the polished woo

you to s

word, she took the pen he offered and scrawled her elegant signature on the

t, his hands steady. He tucked i

ng out on Fri

ied, grabbing her purse. S

, something made Arvin spe

ing back with an

r what I sai

hat? Moving out? Are you going on another one of your little painti

hadn't listened. She hadn't even registered the word "divorce." Of c

ad smile playing on his lips.

walked out the door, her

d around the silent, opulent dining room, a

ding on the outskirts of the city, a world away from Jorja's mansion. He found

ithout preamble. "I'm enro

le. She stood up and hugged him tightly. "Oh,

know, I was so angry when you gave up that scholarship

e your whole life ahead of you. What about J

playing in the yard, their shouts and laught

ivorced,

emed to carry the weight of the past five years. "I had a feeli

ntle and reassuring. "That girl.

is time. He hugged her back, feeling a

"And it's a good th