Elise had no appetite whatsoever.

But she finished every last bite of her steak.

She was a mother now. She had responsibilities. She needed to stay strong, to be there for James.

After the meal, she returned to the bedroom.

He was sleeping soundly, his face the picture of pure innocence.

Watching him, her heart settled. She would never regret this choice.

The next morning came too soon.

It was time for a temporary goodbye.

James would remain in William's custody until his marriage to Victoria. Elise wasn't heartless enough to rip him away right now.

Besides, she was certain James was safest here, with William.

"The car is ready," William's voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

"Alright." Elise knelt, cupping James's soft cheeks. "You'll see Mommy again soon, sweetheart. When school starts back in Crestwood in a few days."

"Okay!" James nodded, his little face serious.

He'd thought, after yesterday, his daddy and mommy would be together forever.

He was such a good boy. So understanding. He never complained, just accepted everything.

It broke her heart.

"Here." William held out a small pill.

The morning-after pill.

She'd actually remembered it herself, planning to pick one up later. There was still time.

But she took it from him without a word. No reason to refuse.

'I'll wait in the car,' he said, turning to leave without a second glance.

Last night's burning passion had cooled into today's icy detachment. Such was the way of pragmatic adult relationships.

Elise swallowed the pill with a sip of water.

She hugged James one more time, breathing in his little-boy scent.

His big, doleful eyes followed her as she walked away, as she slid into the passenger seat of his father's car.

She kept her eyes on his small frame until he was out of sight. The ache of leaving him was a physical pain in her chest.

She turned forward, forcing herself to calm down.

She would get him back. She would bring her son home.

William was silent beside her, the air in the car thick and heavy.

It was only as they drove away that Elise realized the mansion was nestled deep in the mountains, surrounded by dense, winter-bare forest. A perfect, hidden fortress.

Strangely, the car began to climb upward, toward the peak, not down the mountain.

She didn't ask. She simply stared out the window at the stark, white landscape, her heart as cold as the frost on the trees.

They finally stopped on a large, flat clearing at the mountain's summit.

Two helicopters stood waiting, their rotors still.

Elise got out. William followed.

"The helicopter will take you down. Patrick is waiting for you at the landing zone," William stated.

"Thank you." Her voice was just as formal.

He looked at her then, giving a slight, almost imperceptible nod.

No goodbye was spoken. This was a silent farewell.

Elise climbed into the helicopter. William didn't follow. He just stood there, watching.

The engine roared to life. The rotors began to spin, whipping up a whirlwind of dust and dead leaves.

The helicopter lifted off the ground.

Through the window, their eyes met one last time.

The distance between them grew, the world falling away beneath her.

He became a small, solitary figure, then a dot, then nothing at all.

Gone.