The chandelier Elaine had once chosen with trembling hope now cast cold reflections on her untouched breakfast.
A sticky note lay beside the steaming coffee:
**"Meeting with Lucia. Don't wait." —J**
Elaine stared at it, heart sinking.
In the first year of their marriage, he'd left voice memos. Then texts. Now, notes.
She crumpled the paper and tossed it into the sink.
---
Lucia's laughter drifted down the penthouse hallway that evening.
Elaine paused outside the study door, hearing clinks of glasses, piano chords, James's rare chuckle.
“I can't believe you still remember that prank with Professor Niles," Lucia giggled.
“You nearly got expelled," James said, amused.
Elaine took a deep breath and knocked.
Silence.
The door cracked open just enough to reveal James's unreadable fa
