CHAPTER 87: EMMA

I wake up to the sound of rain tapping softly against the window, a rhythmic pattern that matches the steady thump of my heartbeat. I lie in bed for a moment, letting the cool, gray light seep into my room, trying to gather the courage to face another day. It's been a few days since Liam's birthday party, and I still can't shake the feeling of dread that settled in my chest when he told me he would go through with the divorce.

I push myself out of bed and wander into the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed coffee already filling the air. Odette, who's been staying with me for a few days, is perched on one of the stools, flipping through a magazine. She looks up and gives me a sympathetic smile.

"Morning, cherie," she says in her lilting French accent. "How are you feeling today?"

I shrug, pouring myself a cup of coffee. "The same as yesterday, I guess. A bit numb, a bit lost."

Odette closes her magazine and turns to face me, her expression softening. "I know it's hard, but you need t