He was trapped by his own obsession with appearances.

Slowly, his trembling fingers reached for the metal clasp of the courier envelope.

The sharp sound of the paper tearing open cut through the quiet room like a physical blow.

He pulled the thick stack of papers from the envelope.

The blue backing of a legal filing slid onto the polished mahogany table, brushing against his wine glass.

He stared at the bold letters at the top of the page.

“What is this, Derek?” Richard asked, leaning forward until his chest pressed against the edge of the table.

Derek did not answer.

His thumb pressed hard against the margin of the paper, turning the tip of his nail a bloodless white.

“It is a summons,” I said.

I took a slow sip of my water.

The ice clinked against the crystal glass, a clear and steady sound in the silent room.

“And a petition for dissolution of marriage,” I added.

Eleanor let out a sharp, quiet breath and pulled her pearl necklace away from her throat.