He knew his world was a threat to the fragile peace she had tried to build for their daughter.

Suddenly, a sharp vibration rattled against the wood of the bedside table.

It was Ethan’s phone, the screen lighting up the dark corner of the room.

He reached into his pocket and pulled it out, his fingers trembling.

The screen showed a text message from his attorney, Paul Raskin.

I stood close enough to see the words glowing in the dim light.

*Brenner just walked into the office. He has the original lease documents. We need you here now.*

Ethan stared at the screen, his face freezing into a mask of stone as the monitor beside Mary began to beep a little faster.

Ethan reached out and pressed the button on the side of his phone, silencing the vibration.

His thumb hovered over the screen, the blue light casting a cold shadow across his sharp jaw.

“Is it his office?” I asked, keeping my voice low so as not to disturb the quiet of the room.

Ethan did not look at me.