"No," she responds, perhaps more sharply than needed, as if having to force it. She digs her thumbnail against her cup, scraping the ceramic in irritation before taking another drink as if to temper her words.

"I have no interest in coddling your lost memories. You only insult me by suggesting as much." Anne has no interest in being a replacement for some woman, she's far better than that. "I had told you to never come here with such intentions before."