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That evening, I handed the recording to Elliot.

He listened through it. For the first time, a trace of something — satisfaction — moved through his expression.

"Very good."

"You're welcome."

"Not a compliment." He said. "A notification. We can close the net."

I hadn't expected it to happen so fast.

The next morning, the asset freezing order came through from the court. We went to register it immediately.

When we arrived, we discovered that Conrad and Harper had already been there before us.

They'd found an estate agent the night before and listed the flat at a below-market price, trying to convert it quickly.

I stood at the door of the estate agent's office and felt a laugh trying to work its way out.

"He genuinely thinks I'm already dead."

Elliot's voice was cold. "Cornered animals. Nothing more."

The agent tried to claim it was a normal instruction.

Elliot placed the freezing order on the desk.

The agent's expression collapsed. The listing was withdrawn before we reached the door.

Harper was there when we came out.

She walked in on her heels, all the softness gone, something hard and cornered in her face.

"This flat is registered in my name. I can sell it if I choose."

"You also know it's only registered in your name." I looked at her. "So stop performing like it's really yours."

"Go ahead, take it to court."

"Already in progress."

She laughed, sharp and brittle. "Even if you win, Conrad still loves me and not you. You can take the flat back but you can't take back a man."

I watched her.

All the feeling had gone out of me.

"Harper," I said, very evenly, "do you honestly think walking away with Conrad Dunmore is winning?"

She didn't answer.

I said it anyway.

"Picking up someone else's discarded rubbish isn't a prize."

I turned and walked to the car.

She called after me, voice cracking: "Don't get smug — Conrad only ever pitied you!"

I didn't break stride.

At the car, Elliot held the door.

When we'd driven some distance, he spoke.

"That line — do you say things like that normally?"

I turned to look at him.

"What's the verdict?"

"Not normally like that." He kept his eyes forward, but his profile was clear. "You sound less like someone who could be walked over."

I felt something move in my chest.

"You knew me before?"

"Better than you might think."

I stared at him.

"Sadie told me."

He didn't respond.

"So you saw me at the university debate?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"No reason to."

"And now there's a reason?"

He glanced at me, brief.

"Do you have the headspace for something else right now?"

I closed my mouth. He was right.

Not yet.