Chapter 68

"Mom?"

Polly snapped back to the present. "That's just him being polite," she said

distractedly.

"Really?" Renata frowned. She didn't think so.

...

Meanwhile, Clifford sat in his car, ignoring the call he'd made that went unanswered. Rain streamed down the windows, creating a suffocating sense of frustration.

His phone rang. It was Ziven.

Clifford loosened his tie and answered.

"Speak."

The sharp tone made Ziven jump. He got straight to the point. "Ms. Winslet wasn't happy with the birthday gift. She said to tell you that you must go see her after your meeting, or... she won't speak to you again."

"Understood." Clifford hung up and slammed his foot on the accelerator, the car vanishing into the rainy night.

He drove to Lambert Manor. Polly and Renata were in the living room, applying face masks.

Renata saw him first. He stood in the doorway, his hair damp, a few strands falling across his forehead. He seemed to carry the chill of the night with him, and for some reason, he looked desolate.

"Clifford, what are you doing back?” Renata pulled off her mask, surprised.

Polly looked over as well, both women feeling a pang of guilt.

"Where's Latisha?"

Polly froze for a second before answering. “Didn't she leave a while ago?”

"Yeah, she left almost an hour ago," Renata added quickly. "She's probably home by now. Why did you come looking for her here?"

Polly got up and walked over to him, taking his arm with feigned concern. "You're soaked. Come in and change your clothes."

She was nervous. Had that mute girl told him? But then she thought, even if she had, it didn't matter He had silently approved of the abortion last, year. Why would this time be any different?

Clifford glanced at her, then turned and walked away.

Polly's face instantly darkened. "Clifford!" she shouted after his retreating back, her freshly masked face looking grotesque with anger.

But he didn't answer. He got back into his car and drove to Aqua Harmony Haven— the house he shared with Latisha.

He pushed open the door and scanned the living room. The TV was still on, but Latisha was nowhere to be seen. He checked every room, even the bathrooms, but the house was empty.

Clifford's brow furrowed. He glanced at the television screen, which was still on a news channel. It felt wrong. This television should have been playing cartoons.

He picked up the remote and turned it off. Now, the vast living room was truly silent. An unnerving, heavy silence.

Clifford tugged at his collar and turned to leave. As he opened his car door, he caught sight of a figure in the distance. He squinted, trying to make out the shape moving through the rain. The downpour had intensified, blurring his vision.

The figure moved slowly, so slowly it seemed as if the raindrops might knock it over.

It took a full five minutes before he could clearly see that it was Latisha. She was

drenched, staggering toward him one slow step at a time.

When she finally reached him, she

lifted her head. Her wet hair clung to her face, and the rain streamed into hard for her to

her eyes, making it

see. Her arms hung timply at her sides, water dripping from her fingertips onto the pavement. Cóntent

She just stared at him.

"Did you walk all the way back?”

Clifford grabbed an umbrella from the car and opened it over her head, shielding her from the rain.

Latisha stared back at him blankly and gave a slight, empty twitch of her lips. She wanted to say something, but she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand.

It was too late.

The umbrella was useless now. She was already soaked to the bone.