Margot's parents let out a heavy sigh, shaking their heads inwardly. What was the point of dredging up the truth now? Margot and Lauren were gone, and nothing could change that. Without a word, they took Margot's urn home, planning to hold her memorial and lay her to rest in the plot she'd chosen long ago.
Jaxon pressed a hand to his chest, where the talisman rested, and felt a flicker of relief amidst the ache. Back at the villa, he froze, noticing the wilted flowers in the vase. Without Margot, no one bothered with her careful flower arrangements or even thought to replace them. The throw pillows on the couch still carried her scent. The TV, when he flicked it on, was paused on the last show she'd watched. The paintings on the walls—her handiwork—reminded him of how she'd poured her hea
