Chapter 2

Days later, the memory of Cassie' s pregnant silhouette haunted Aurora.

Alistair was at a political rally, a "family-friendly" event.

Aurora watched on a news feed, a cold sickness spreading through her.

Alistair was on stage, smiling, then bent down to ruffle the hair of two small boys.

The commentator cooed, "Senator Thorne with the children of a close family friend, a testament to his commitment to the next generation."

Cassie stood nearby, beaming like a proud mother.

They were her sons. Alistair' s sons.

A bitter taste filled Aurora's mouth.

She remembered their wedding. Alistair had insisted on a rare jazz piece, one her grandfather composed.

It was deeply personal, a piece of her soul.

Months later, a gossip columnist quoted Cassie, "Oh, that's Alistair and my special song."

At the time, Aurora had dismissed it as a misunderstanding, a socialite's careless words. Now, it felt like a deliberate theft.

The Thorne Foundation, Alistair' s flagship charity, had a new initiative: "Harmony for a New Generation."

"Harmony" – Alistair's private, coded endearment for Cassie.

His speeches on integrity, on family, now felt like a personal, unending torment.

Aurora felt her own spirit dimming, the vibrant colors of her Heartnote Harmony fading to grey.

One afternoon, Alistair' s chief of staff called, his voice professionally neutral.

"Mrs. Thorne, the Senator has a small request. Your Magnolia Locket, the family heirloom. He' d like to loan it for a museum exhibit on American heritage."

The locket was precious, said to hold echoes of her ancestors' voices, the very source of her gift.

"A museum exhibit?" Aurora asked, her voice flat.

"Yes, a very prestigious one," the chief of staff assured her.

Aurora knew, with a chilling certainty, it wasn' t for any museum.

It was for Cassie.