: S

trembled

rdered, voice cold a

that godforsaken restaurant was on me? Some watched with

drew attention; their

idn't

it over y

slap. My throat clenched. The scarlet wine swirle

ost-tilted her head with a wicked little smirk. Like a queen watching her executioner work. This wasn't just humiliation. This was war. I took one last

me like I was nothing. Like he hadn't kissed me in the shadows of St. Elizabeth's Hall. Like he hadn't whispered how obsessed he was with

e me shifted that night. As the cameras clicked and whispered captions swirl

le. And the rise of som

o Years

ion had arrived a month ago-handwritten, gold-foiled, smelling of power. The Brinchfort Charity Gala. Black-tie. No entry without a name. I wasn't invited. But I was

diamond pin into my curl

stared back at me, unfamiliar but thrilling. Bold eyes. Strong chin. Dangerous smile

as fire wrapp

ride wa

night chaos, but I was calm.

nhattan – Bri

: Lo

in red, face stoic, walking out like a fallen queen. People never forgot drama. He should've been over it. Over her. But he wasn't. No one knew

time, a year ago, he hired someone to track her down. Waste of mone

rked-inside was a photo. A woman in a black power s

aunting gray eyes. It c

le, knocked on the door.

irs for the Empire gala project

hand trembled. S. Black. No. It couldn't be. But