Chapter 1

“For five years, I had been Silas Blackwood’s gilded canary. Then, that afternoon, he told me his true love was coming back.”

“As I listened with my one good ear, I forced a smile. That is wonderful news, I said. Congratulations.”

“He had always been generous with me. Even as he ended things, he insisted on giving me a massive sum of money.”

“He told me, Elara, this is enough to keep you comfortable for the rest of your life. Consider it compensation for your hearing. From now on, we owe each other nothing.”

“I didn’t tell him the truth. I didn’t have a rest of my life left.”

“It was terminal stage stomach cancer. I had three months at most.”