As the sedan carried us toward the little apartment, I began to suspect that Arthur’s grand announcement wasn’t the end of the story.

It was only the beginning.

PART 3 — THE CLAUSE IN THE TRUST

The apartment smelled of old carpet and stale tea.

Arthur seemed delighted by it.

He removed his wedding jacket, changed into a faded cardigan, and settled onto a floral sofa.

I remained standing in my gown.

The skirt took up almost the entire space between the sofa and the dining table.

Arthur watched me.

“Isn’t it peaceful?”

I looked around.

Two bedrooms.