Chapter 6 Lucas burst through his front door to complete darkness. "Eva?" He fumbled for the light switch. The living room was empty. On the coffee table, besides a divorce agreement, Eva had left him nothing. Lucas's hands shook as he flipped to the last page-both he and Eva had signed it! Suddenly dizzy, he staggered against the couch, scanning what used to be their warm home. Eva's beloved pothos plant was gone. Her little round table on the balcony where she prepped lessons sat empty, eyen her favorite matching bear slippers had vanished. He rushed frantically into the bedroom. Her side of the closet, never full to begin with, was now completely bare. But her dresser was covered with all the jewelry he'd given her-clearly she wanted nothing from him. No, this can't be happening." Lucas collapsed onto the bed. His phone rang and he lunged for it: "Eva?" It's me, Lucas." Jake's voice came through. How's your mom? The wedding's a total shitshow-Chloe's still in the wedding dress refusing to leave..." Cancel it! Cancel everything!" ucas roared and hung up, but the phone immediately rang again. 'his time it was the hospital doing post-op follow-up for an abortion procedure. We can't reach your wife. Please monitor her bleeding situation." When did this happen?" Yesterday. Mrs. Grant was brought in barely clothed, severe abdominal trauma. We couldn't save the baby." .ucas lost all strength, collapsing to the floor. va's lesson plans scattered around him. He opened them desperately, drinking in every page. Three years ago when he'd first taken over the school, facing doubts from the board of directors, Eva had volunteered to help him eorganize the academic structure, staying up all night crafting reform proposals. She was always first to arrive, last to leave, pouring everything into his career. And how had he repaid her? Lucas squeezed his eyes shut in agony. He saw Eva's desperate expression when those parents attacked her, and her paper-white face after being tortured with those toys all night... "What have I done..." The next week, Lucas wandered like a zombie. He searched everywhere Eva might go-the school, library, her usual coffee shop. He even contacted all her friends and classmates, but found nothing. He spent entire nights waiting downstairs, hoping maybe tonight she'd come home. He'd give her the biggest hug and tell her he was wrong. A week later, the doorbell rang. Lucas practically jumped up and ran to the door, but froze when he opened it. Chloe stood outside, eyes red and puffy. 'Lucas..." She threw herself into his arms. "Why haven't you been answering my calls? I've been so worried!"