ll end up in his hands. Men like him never miss an opportunity-and if they have to step over someone to get what they want, they won't hesitate for a second. Just picturing his smug
me and sent someone else to
ongtime friend of our family,
ey didn't. Enough. Decision made. As soon as my father returns, I'll endure a couple of unforgettable days under the same roof an
inside the car-which is exactly what I did. Mom didn't appear until more than half the guests had alread
ing. She was glowing brighter than the gold wrap
about," she replied lightly, th
downtown? Nina's already wai
ember-you need to b
five minutes?" I smiled. "Just tell me one
ut I didn't dwell on it. If Aunt Amina wa
lling the scarf off my head.
blonde hair fell freely over my
ful," my mother said une
eye color from my father, but my soft, delicate features came from her. Looking at her now-s
lunging me straight into nostalgia. As I watched the car disappear down the street, I lifted my gaze to the sky. Heavy clouds
otted me, she jumped up and rushed toward me with her arms wide open. Our shrieks could only have been ignored by someone comple
to the table she'd been sitting at. "You've
e," I replied, settling int
e, but seeing each other in person after sev
glasses anymore," Nina said
cake and a cup of tea, then turn
photoshoot and accidentally fell into the water. Lost my contacts. Sin
amed. "That was you in the latest
made a living, but for some reason it fel
arefully, then lowered her gaze to the plate the waiter had just place
d. "But if my manager doesn
such intensity that it made me uneasy. I remembered that look from childhood
manager be against you part
n, I rolled my eyes, sighed dramatic
a break from al
t refusing felt nearly impossible. Whether Valen would approve was a
id carefully. "But I'm warning
nd things. Your face won't even be visi
nge
r new lingerie line-for both men and women. So I
I didn't have the heart to interrup
. Does that mean I
ight male model yet. I still ha
't you at Darvin's funeral? Are things
rew. I didn't know exactly what had sparked the feud between their families, but it had
ll in love with Vlad," I
l anyone else-but not me. I knew she still loved him. It was written all
ly, focusing on the d
ely. I finished my tea and said goodbye-Nina had clearly sunk into a darker mood. Somethi
her had turned ugly fast, and all I wanted now was to take a hot bath and curl up in bed with my
/1/104278/coverbig.jpg?v=e7fbaa19afda93e9de45ce6420fb7145&imageMogr2/format/webp)