The Pianist's Reckoning

believe

flat, final. He wou

ny, triumphant smirk over his shoulder.

ice raw. "You know me. I would neve

the music they created together, his hands on her s

" Mark' s voice was hard. He was echoing Lila' s carefully planted narrativ

Lila gently. "We ne

room where they' d spent countl

thick with

... possessive. Jealous

! Mark, she' s twi

p weariness, as if her de

ote, Ava. The

I have no idea where Snowball i

ime to reflect, Ava. Away from things. Away

re you s

e for a while. Until you can be h

uded getaway. Once a symbo

on her word against mine?"

is terrified of you." He ran a hand through his hair, a gestu

fied, Mark. She' s

, a deep frown et

always had everything. Lila has had to fight for every scra

herself were spe

y background, Mark! I

threatening note. And Lila is hysterical. You nee

s? I' ve do

r argument. "I' ll have your things sent. And I' m taking your phone. No conta

. He was actua

out her was now choosing to believe she was a mons

ce crumpled. A cold d

hispered, tears finally escapin

a flicker of the old Mark, a hint of pain in his ey

to learn. This... arrogance, this

her a lesson. His less

ouse in silence. He took her phone, her

he echo of his cold words and th

eace, now seemed to mock her, its vast