Chapter 375

Inside the drawer, a few folded pairs of his old underwear lay neatly, all in the same plain style—just black or grey, nothing else. That faint warmth that had just swelled in his chest disappeared in an instant, replaced by a strange sense of disappointment and gloom. His chest felt tight, like it was jammed full of something heavy. She'd gotten him everything—new jackets, thermal shirts, even stuff for the cold weather. But—why not underwear? Conrad Hilliard sat on the edge of the bed holding his pajamas, just zoning out. The pleasant surprise he felt earlier when he saw those new clothes? Gone, all of it, replaced with a bitter sense of being overlooked. He finally moved after what felt like forever, changed into his pajamas, washed up, then quietly climbed into bed and pulled Calliope Godfrey into his arms. But an hour later, he stared at the ceiling, totally restless. He sat up abruptly, tossed aside the blanket, and got out of bed. Back at the wardrobe, he opened the drawer again