THE LAST THING HE TOOK FROM ME

e. He wasn't clinging or claiming her. He just held her-en

it felt. That's w

ess bursts. The ballroom inside shimmered-chandeliers, crystal, diamonds. Old money every

awless match. They had no idea their "perfect marriage" was already reduced to a neat little stack of divorce pape

to her lower back. That touch-effortless, famil

!" "Mrs. Varren!" "Look this way!

closer. "Don't

m n

my hand like y

b brushed her knuckles, just once. Tiny, almost nothing. Still,

ng a word. Tonight, that comfort-they used to call it insti

rning call. The question hanging between them ever since she left his office: had

wered. She n

ed, untouchable. He talked to investors, shook hands, accepted praise. Discussed charities. Every so often, his hand found Evelisse again: her wa

adn't touched a bite. Hadn't even noticed foo

aven't

ged. "Not

u a

o you

g your thumb agains

"Does that me

n you're hungry but d

habits, the foods she avoided, how she fell quiet when overwhelmed, the finger nervou

hampagne. Caelen grabbed a

not dr

laughed. "I

removed the glass from her

t going

s aside. Then looked at h

ele

eas

please.' Not to her. Not when they

ha

thi

re ti

ou can

e been

lways

wit

hotograph, the other woman, everything. There was only the man she'd married-the one who sat beside her every night she couldn't sleep. Who reme

ow could someone who knew her so

rm fingers against her skin. She glanced dow

. The crowd kept talking. Evelisse co

ed up. "You

are

iced the tremor, pulled ba

dded.

ut then someone called, "Caelen!" A group of businessmen approached

allroom, glittering under a chandelier. The woman

one shoulder. That face-those eyes, jawline, mouth-

ely still. No words. Didn't blink. For th

Evelisse

dn't

, though. Looking right at Evelisse. She star

Evelisse's wris

ed at hi

stepped aside. Some greeted her, but sh

d a bit in

h of them. Her expression change

down Eveli

whispere

e leane

almost sad. "You rea

oice came ou

r face, like hunting

omething passed-recognition, war

know

stayed

d closer. Caelen

e," h

ked straight at Evel

rt thundered.

in. That perfume hit Evelisse, and

n's hand holding hers-a voice

ed. The memory

do?" The woman

d something,"

ha

ped forward

ardened. "You stil

t h

ad fiftee

one to the other. "Fi

ans

around them. No one noticed the

pped. "You were twelv

. The photograph. The missing years. T

met you,"

smile lingered.

hook her h

t don't

shifted. "Leav

n back at Evelisse. "Ask him

mach twisted.

. "Ask him why you dis

She reached for the

n melted int

rried after

ght her by

on

me

ows som

kno

about my

kno

bout the mis

kno

him. "Then why di

ale. "I wanted

shot back, stepping away. "

"You don't know w

lp me un

id no

d hotter. "What happen

ans

ele

ghtened. "

hy

being w

round-the party, the cameras, s

elen, but he was star

n behind the glass railing. Watc

sion hardened.

that?"

sse let him. Not out of trust, but because so

he came for Evelisse. And someone el

an. For the first time, she wondered: did the woman recognize her be