The Gilded Cage: Her Fierce Escape

suite hung in the air, a fragile

e in our cavernous living ro

not looking at me. He loo

ul, Ava," he said

n't truly looked at me in mon

inally facing me. His smile didn't reac

ine. I didn't want a party. I want

ease, I'm

"People are already on their way. My asso

m Ethan's firm. They were loud, their laughter echoing off the ma

a gesture that felt more like

his better?"

the room to

The three men surrounded me.

dest one, reached ou

sad," he slurred. "We're

they blocked my path. I looked towa

tanding in the hall

't on t

g his phone u

nd, his expression a chilling void, and

entire time, I knew the red light of Ethan's phone was captur

room. He didn't look at me, crumpled on the floor. H

business-like. "You will sign the papers. You will

peak. My thr

oes to every gossip blog in the city. Your parents, your friends, ev

rce papers onto th

ty-four hours.

ague. The name was

me broken in the ruins of the li