My body is numb. I could be dead with how slow I’m moving.

The rest of last night was spent soaking my pillow, wanting to crawl back into his bed. I could almost hear him telling me he loved me. If he had said it, I would have promised to stay. I would find a way.

But he didn’t.

Which is a good thing. If I stay here, then I’m bringing the trouble to him, to this house, to this family. And I can’t. I know what Hugo is capable of. I’ve seen what he does when he doesn’t get what he wants.

Still, pushing Murph away murdered me.

Now I just need to get through this day.

No one is very lively as we all gather in the living room, ready for the lawyer to arrive. There is no sign of Murph as we wait. I can’t stop fidgeting, and I refuse to sit, so I pace.

I only have a few short hours left in this house, and it hurts to look around. This home has started to feel like my own, which is a stupid and unfair thought to have. It was never mine. Hazel wanted it that way, but she didn’t get what she wanted. She tried to bring two brothers together but somehow drove them apart instead. She thought she could push me into Murph’s arms, but she had no idea just how much of a disaster that would turn out to be.

I considered telling him, warning him ahead of time about the shop, but I decided not to. If I tell him now, it will only drag the whole thing out. If he doesn’t know, then he’ll hate me when he hears it. He’ll blame me and it will be that much easier to leave.

When he finally walks into the room, his eyes lift to find mine, and he looks as sleepless and miserable as I do. Staring at him, I see the last month—everything from the first day at the tattoo shop to the night I told him everything. And all the words I’ve been wanting to say are just resting on my lips, waiting to be spoken, knowing that as soon as this will business is done, Hugo will be waiting for me.

I can barely breathe through the pressure in my chest. Everything becomes numb as I wipe the tears from my face and bite my lip.

The room is dead silent as we all gather around the table. The lawyer looks older than Hazel was, and when he starts talking, it sounds like it’s being said in a different language.

He starts with Ryder. She left him her stocks and bonds for Lucy and several of her properties for him to manage.