The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Collins' mansion, but it brought no warmth to the emptiness that had settled in his chest. He hadn't slept at all, spending the night pacing the halls and writing letter after letter to Nora that he knew he couldn't send. Not yet.
The sound of the doorbell echoed through the house at precisely nine o'clock. Collins opened the door to find Grace Ryan standing on his doorstep, looking as exhausted as he felt. Her usually perfect appearance was disheveled - her hair slightly unkempt, her eyes red-rimmed from what he assumed was a sleepless night.
"Grace," he said softly, stepping aside to let her in. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted, walking into the living room where just yesterday, their family had been whole. "I
