rine'
t me in
flight. I had not braced myself for my own
. No hug. No are-you-okay. "Isabel
down slowly
e cabin of people." Elena's voice climbed. "Do you have any id
alfway out. "Six years. Marco. He was seeing Isa
ait
e. I wanted her to be
he mess. Like I'd tracked
an to feel something he doesn't. Frankly, Catherine, if he chose Isabella, maybe you should ask yourself why
from under me for th
tared at her. "He was my bo
robe cinched, expression already set against me
Catherine, I'm not going to have
ter stole m
scended slowly, buttoning the cuff of his shirt, calm as anything. "She says the two of them fell f
nable to believe it. "Dad, I'v
Isabella is younger than you. She's more delicate. You've always been the stro
ild. Because everything I had, I owed. Because whatever was mine became Isabella'
alwa
e very quiet, and very steady. "You want
nds. "Ambitious. Generous. He's been very good to
stments" Marco had made in my father's little venture
iend. I understood now that he'd been buyin
side. They'd picked it befor
forget it was a favor. My mother, who'd raised me to be useful. My sister, who'd been taught from birt
t?" I said. "
own. "I-yes. Good.
Isabella. Truly. I hope they're very, very happy. I hope they lock it down and never look back." I p
ke. It wasn't the reacti
ine, this is for the best. You're twenty-seven, you can't just float along. Now tha
t to be ki
y. And it's time you thought about your future, about doing
aughed, and it wasn't a nice sound. "Right
heri
ue, and a cold, clear plan had already begun
ne wen
peaking another language. Antonio's brows drew to
Anger. Maybe another figh
xpected me to
someone was simple.
swer a few questions, and let my family belie
t, however, might not g
rrying a man of my own choosing to get away from this
ous?" Elena a
p my bag a
anted me to meet
that night, nobod
lly found another way to p
were
would listen. I would play al
r I sat down at that table
e being h
person moving me acr
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