Lucas's birthday party was scheduled for June 14th.

Our wedding anniversary.

I found out from the invitation on the refrigerator. Bright blue card stock. Cartoon dinosaurs. *You're Invited to Lucas's 6th Birthday!* The date printed in cheerful yellow letters.

Jenesis walked into the kitchen while I was looking at it.

"Oh good, you saw," she said brightly. "I wanted to tell you earlier, but it's been so hectic. The Plaza was booked, so we're doing it here. Catherine's handling the catering. About forty guests."

I looked at the date again. June 14th.

"That works," I said.

Her smile flickered. Just for a second.

"Great," she said. "I'll need the living room cleared by Friday. For the decorations."

I nodded. Poured my coffee. Walked out.

Behind me, I heard her exhale. Sharp. Frustrated.

Two days later, I came home to find the studio empty.

Completely empty.

The shelves where I'd stored my remaining tools—wire, clay, a box of sketches from college—were bare. The corner where I'd kept my mother's reading chair was just floor.

I stood in the doorway.

Jenesis appeared behind me. "Oh, Azalea. I meant to tell you. I donated some things to charity. The studio wasn't being used, and Lucas needs a playroom. Catherine thought it was a wonderful idea. I hope that's okay?"

I turned around.

She was wearing white. Linen pants. Silk blouse. Her hair pulled back in a low ponytail. She looked concerned. Apologetic.

I looked at her for three seconds.

Then I walked past her. Down the hall. Into the guest bathroom. Locked the door.

I sat on the edge of the tub and stared at the tile.

My hands were steady.

I counted to sixty. Then I stood up. Washed my face. Walked back out.

That night, Catherine called.

Elijah answered on speaker in the living room. I was in the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher.

"Darling, I've been thinking," Catherine said. Her voice had that careful, measured tone. "With Lucas here full-time now, the penthouse feels a bit… crowded. Perhaps Azalea would be more comfortable in the guest wing? Just until things settle."

Silence.

I stopped moving. Held a plate in both hands.

"That makes sense," Elijah said finally. "I'll talk to her."

"Wonderful. I knew you'd understand."

She hung up.

I put the plate in the cabinet. Closed it quietly.

Elijah appeared in the doorway.

"Did you hear?"

"Yes," I said.

"It's just temporary."

I looked at him. He was still in his work clothes. Tie loosened. Sleeves rolled up. He looked tired.

"Okay," I said.

His jaw tightened. "That's it? Okay?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything," he said. His voice was low. Hard. "Anything that sounds like you're still in there."

I turned back to the dishwasher.

He stood there for another minute. Then he left.

I moved my things the next morning. It didn't take long. I'd already lost most of it.

The guest wing had a bed. A dresser. A bathroom with good water pressure. A window that faced the building next door.

I hung up my dresses. Put my books on the shelf. Made the bed.

Then I sat on the edge of it and looked at the wall.

Elijah started testing me after that.

Small things at first. He'd mention Jenesis at breakfast. Casual. Light. "Jenesis thinks we should renovate the kitchen. What do you think?"

I'd say, "That's fine."

He'd wait. Like he expected more.

I'd drink my coffee.

Then the tests got sharper.

He made a reservation at Le Bernardin. Our favorite. Texted me to meet him at seven.

I arrived on time. Sat at the bar. Ordered water.

Seven came and went.

Seven-thirty.

Eight.

At eight-thirty, he texted: *Something came up. Can't make it.*

I paid for the water. Took a car service home.

He was in the living room when I walked in. Sitting in the dark. Watching me.

"You didn't call," he said.

"You canceled," I said.

"You waited ninety minutes."

"Yes."

"And you didn't call. Didn't text. Didn't ask where I was."

I looked at him.

"What did you want me to say?"

He stood up. Walked past me. I heard his bedroom door close.

A week later, he came home late. After midnight. I was in the guest wing, reading.

I heard him in the hallway. Heard him stop outside my door.

He didn't knock.

The next morning, I smelled it. Perfume. Floral. Heavy. Not mine.

His collar. His jacket. The couch where he'd sat.

Jenesis's perfume.

I walked into the kitchen. Made coffee. Poured a cup.

Elijah was at the table. Watching me.

I didn't look at him.

"You're not going to ask," he said.

I added cream to my coffee. Stirred it slowly.

"Ask what?"

"Where I was last night."

I took a sip. "Okay. Where were you?"

His eyes narrowed. "You don't care."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

I set down my cup. Looked at him.

His face was hard. Tight. Angry.

I looked away.

He left without another word.

That afternoon, a new driver appeared. Older man. Grey hair. Polite.

"Mr. Grant asked me to take you wherever you need to go, ma'am," he said.

I looked at him. "I have a driver."

"Mr. Grant requested a change."

I got in the car.

The new driver reported everything. I knew because Elijah started mentioning things. Small things. The bodega where I bought my coffee. The hospital visiting hours. The route I took home.

I didn't change anything.

Let him watch.

Midnight. I was in the guest wing kitchen, pouring water, when he appeared.

He was holding my phone.

"Who is he?" Elijah's voice was quiet. Cold.

I looked at the phone. Then at him.

"Who?"

"The number you've been calling. The hospital bathroom. The burner phone."

My heart didn't speed up. I'd expected this.

"There's no one," I said.

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not."

He stepped closer. His face was inches from mine. "You think I don't see it? You've checked out. Completely. You don't care where I go. Who I'm with. What I do. That's not grief, Azalea. That's guilt."

I looked at him.

Really looked.

His eyes were wild. Desperate. He wanted me to fight. To scream. To break.

"You don't get to use that word," I said.

His breath caught.

For the first time in weeks, I sounded like myself.

He kissed me.

Hard. Possessive. His hands in my hair. His body pressing me back against the counter.

I didn't push him away.

I didn't kiss him back.

I just stood there.

He pulled back. Searched my face.

My eyes were open. Calm. Empty.

He let go.

Took a step back.

His face was white.

"Azalea—"

I picked up my water glass. Walked past him. Down the hall.

I heard him standing there. Breathing hard.

I closed my door.

Locked it.

Sat on the bed in the dark.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

*he kissed you and you felt nothing. you're already dead.*

I read it twice.

Then I pulled out the burner phone.

Dialed Willow's number.

She answered on the first ring.

"I'm ready," I said.