I had thought no one knew.
"I hoped Damian would help you breathe. I was wrong about Damian. I was not wrong about you."
He pressed a heavy wooden box into my hands.
"These were Elena's. Sebastian sold most of them after she died. I bought them back, piece by piece. She used to say jewelry has memory. I think she would be glad they came to you."
I opened the lid. Sapphire, pearl, old gold. I cried so hard I couldn't breathe. It was the first time in my life that anyone had chosen me on purpose.
I hugged him, said goodbye, and walked out into the long Denver dusk with that box in my arms. For the first time my chest felt full of something solid instead of hollow.
***
Kate's POV
The charity gala was held on the rooftop terrace of Denver's most prestigious art museum.
From the back o
