around her body. The morning air felt sharp against her damp cheeks. Her feet
explain everything. To tell him it w
her stood there waiting, arms crossed over hi
er voice shaking. "Pleas
cutting her off. "Your siste
, mouth ope
d, his words slow and harsh. "Your mother
was breaking inside her. "Please... it's not
ar your lies," he s
icker of softness. But he turned away, walking back into th
the lock echo
he city felt too big and too cold around her. She hugged herself tightsten. Maybe he
ng inside. The smell of strong cologne and sweet perfume
?" she cal
walked further
mach twisted painfully. Her hands shook as she picked i
ushed open hi
d, half-covered by the sheets. Vela lay beside him, her blonde hair
. She let out a small laugh. "Why are you s
with tears as she stumbled back from the door, then turned and
with boxes and bags scattered near the gate. Her clothes
side them, looking uncomfortable. Sh
id said quietly. "I saved what I could b
st dropped it. She wanted to scream, to collapse on the ground and cr
. Her feet carried her down familiar streets, past grocery stores and b
's apa
within seconds. Carden stood there, eyes wide when he sa
." he wh
kly and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. Sh
into her hair. "I've got
~
e humming to herself. Her phone buzzed beside her. She glanced at t
el
with Miss Vela Calderon ?
Unless you're a debt collector, t
ntinued smoothly. "I'm calling to let you know M
o the bed. "I... excuse me? Meeting? W
night," Julius said calmly. "We have you
n it clicked - the setup. The man Th
nd cold fear at the same time. She sat
id quickly, switching to her s
er reflection in the mirror. "Oh, Thi
estaurant. She wore a pale pink dress that hugged her curves, her hair curled perfectly over her
finally. His dark
night," he said in a low voice. "The
do I," she said softly, pretending to look embar
ickered in his eyes. He's suspicious, she real
holder onto the table. "If you need anythi
I don't want money. I... I thi
rowing slightly. Then h
ressed her back against it, grinning at the ceiling.
t into a wife,"
d again. An ema
ment Confirmatio
d. She had been appointed to a position
the crystal chandelier. Darian's name po
it without a
g her phone onto the bed and walking towards her vanity mirror.
/1/112104/coverbig.jpg?v=3103e814f051a8a58e5bc8326eb54c28&imageMogr2/format/webp)