Mara “She didn’t even shed a tear, Lucian,” Tina spat, her voice brittle with venom. “She’s pretending. Acting like she cared. Meanwhile, she was whining about needing her beauty sleep while we were terrified for your life.” I almost laughed. It was so transparent. But the nausea twisting in my gut stopped me cold. “Get out, Tina,” Lucian said, his voice razor-sharp. I reached for his arm—calm him down. Tina was pregnant. As much as her presence grated, we both knew she wouldn’t be with us for much longer. The baby was due in two months. We could afford to be measured. She couldn’t. “Please, Lucian,” she said, voice dropping into a pitiful plea. “Be kind to me. I know I wasn’t the best girlfriend, but I loved you the best way I knew how. I made mistakes, I know, but Mara? She wasn’t t

