Linsy still remembered the last time she had seen Violet Bento storming out of the building with tears running down her face, mascara smudged like charcoal streaks under her eyes. That day, Violet’s heels had clicked a furious tempo down the marble hallway, her fury slicing through the air like a blade.

Today was different.

The sight of her in the lobby now made Linsy pause mid-step. Violet was smiling, smiling at her as if the past weeks had been nothing but a passing cloud. She looked ...