I thought he had looked at all four of us — the ready-made, complicated, grief-shadowed whole of us — and chosen us anyway.

It was the thing I had wanted most in the world and had trained myself not to hope for.

He handed it to me, and I took it with both hands.

Chapter 5 — The Sentence That Made the Room Cold

And then, through the open line, came the sentence that turned the warm bedroom cold around me.

“After the wedding, I’ll get access to the house and her savings.” Nathan’s voice was light, almost cheerful.

“She’ll be left with nothing.”