CLAIRE

Vanessa arrived nine minutes early.

I knew because I arrived five minutes early and she was already sitting by the window with untouched coffee in front of her.

She looked smaller somehow. Not physically. Just less certain.

For years, Vanessa had entered

CLAIRE

Ethan looked older than he had a week ago.

Not dramatically. He still wore the same expensive coat, the same watch, the same careful haircut. But something in his face had changed. The confidence was gone. So was that effortless warmth he use

CLAIRE

I answered on the fourth ring.

"Hey."

Roman was quiet for half a second. "You okay?"

I looked at the closed door Ethan had just walked through. "He came by."

Roman didn't ask who. He knew.

"How bad?"

"Not bad."

That surprised me as I said it. "Just... final.