The Loyal Dog Becomes A Lion

othes, things that didn't smell like the Hayes mansion. As I came out of

aid, her voice ti

at are you doing here?

sual, so ingrained, it w

I said, ignori

e snapped, moving to

you feel like you were something unpleasant he had stepped in. "Ethan,

mance. Olivia nodded, clearly wanting to avoid a

aurant I had taken Olivia to for our fi

into perfect little squares, just the way I used to. Leo ate every bite, praising Daniel for b

met them by "coincidence." She

ok so gloomy? You'r

othly, putting a hand on her ar

ension was

ning instantly for Daniel. "It's just that se

coli on Leo's plate, a vegetable he usually r

hand away. "Get away from

reprimand was

s face red. "I don't want him here! He's

t was a dull, heavy thud, the sound of some

ee, Olivia? This is what happens.

ay, buddy. I'm right here." He looked at me with

him. "Can you come live with us, Danie

chair scraping against the floor. E

led, my voice sounding

me. That night, I went back to the mansion

all emotion. I placed the divorce papers, the ones I ha

es that I was the one initiating. Then her expressio

ed up a pen, scribbled her name, an

re you sa

th a flick of her wrist. Ten years of devotion, of sacrifice, of unrequited love, me

pers. "Yes,"

t a sliver of something that wasn't pain. It