Chapter 3

Back when Isabelle was still around, she looked out for me. She used to make sure there were a few spicy dishes on the Sterling Manor table just because she knew I liked them.

But after she was gone, the house went bland. It was just Julian and me, and the flavor disappeared.

If I ever tried to cook anything spicy, Julian acted like I was launching a personal attack.

"You know I stopped eating spicy food because of Claire," he used to snap. "Why do you cook this stuff? Are you trying to make me sick? Do you just…