The Seal

he Father, the Son, a

as husband and wife, bound together

glistened beneath a shimmering canopy of cascading orchids and diamond-crusted vines imported from

st two hours stood at the garden entrance, addin

ly guarded by a discreet team of black-suited private security. Tasha's dress alone, a Vera Vachette original laced with rea

ecret royal reserve, and the seven-tier cake stood over nine

treamed to exclusive platforms with restricted access. Headlines captu

smile stretched from ear to ear, hands clasped together in quiet triumph. Her son was finally ma

to a family friend, "Now this is h

st blessed their union, his thoughts drifted, breaking through the haze of

. Do it scared. Do it dou

His hand tightened around hers, committing his vows to her. She was

illed the cathedral, one thought lingered at the

ag

-

Year

ht y

opping eight years. And for every single

rossed, her eyes reflecting the city lights. The

r silhouette framed by the glow of a crystal chandelier. Beyond her, floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the sparkling city sk

s about Audrey or her

e confirme

e nightstand. He usually reached for it after a back

really l

f her question hanging heavy in t

she shook her head. "No. Don'

rward, her heels clicking

had heard this argument too many time

ss her chest. Her mother had told her while growing up to make sure sh

voice rose with each word. "Every time, you say 'it doesn't matter' or 'we

t the edges. He ran a ha

d. "How many times do I have to say this? Children are in God's hands. We don't

dismissively. "Easy for you t

eagan

ted seeing him as yours, too. Don't forget that he lived with me for three years before you ca

elong here,"

his tone edged with finali

like a curse. Greg's jaw tightened. He rose

to get so

just like before," s

mething to say, but no words came. F

they both knew it. This a

-

y carry him away. His soft yet pale complexion, coupled with his unsteady, wavering

surprising vigor that belied his delicate appearance. Tasha couldn't stop being bedazzled by the strong conne

in eerie silence. She looked at her reflection, flawless, p

oweres," where she would be hosting the crème de la crème of Salock and beyond. She had earlier notified her

t sent a shiver down her spine

air. Her eyes fell on the pile of designer clothes-melted, warped, destroy

AGA

h, she grabbed the nearest object, her

y!" she shrieked, s

his feet, heart

fury. Years of enduring her wrath had honed his reflexes, and now, with

against the three-hundred-seventy-inch Titan Zeus. The massive ultra-thin OLED screen deliv

thout food, his suffering courtesy of Miss Natalie, the cook who doled out his

sks she piled onto him. The weight of exhaustion pressed heavily on his limbs, but he dare

le. She slipped. Her body slammed against the flo

thed at

lding back a scream. He didn't know if she

, the elevato

zy and glowing in couture. She barel

as

opped her diamond-encrusted handbag and m

lights pierced the night

the Constellar

Re

waiting. The acrid smell of burnt fabric still hung in the air like evidence

f the closet.In the distance, he could hear Eve's frantic voice giving detail