He simply took her thin, pale hands in his gloved ones.

“Clara,” Adrian said.

“It is over.”

“Caleb is gone.”

Clara looked at him for a long moment, her eyes scanning his face.

Her fingers trembled against his gloves.

“You’re alive,” she whispered.

“He told me you died in the fire.”

“He said the estate belonged to his associates now.”

“I know,” Adrian said.

“He lied to both of us.”

Clara looked past Adrian’s shoulder and saw me standing in the doorway.

She tilted her head, her brow furrowing.

“Who is she?” Clara asked.

“This is Nora,” Adrian said.

“She is the household manager.”

“She has been taking care of the estate.”

“And she is the mother of my daughter.”

Clara did not show anger.

She looked at me with a tired, quiet curiosity.

“A daughter,” Clara said.

“You have a child.”

“Yes,” I said, stepping into the room.

“Her name is Lila.”

“She is four years old.”

Clara looked down at her own hands.

“I was gone so long,” Clara said.

“The world went on without me.”

“We are going to get you out of here,” I said.