He stepped closer. “In twenty-three days, you can leave that apartment and return to your real life.”

Lucy’s fingers tightened around Rebecca’s. “This is my real life,” Rebecca said.

Samuel laughed once. “Living under a leaking roof with a laborer and someone else’s child?”

Rebecca slapped him. The sound cracked across the sidewalk. Samuel’s face turned slowly back toward her. Lucy stared up in shock. Rebecca’s palm burned.

“Do not speak about her that way again.”

Something cold entered Samuel’s eyes. “You have no idea who that man is.”