Liam's Shadow, Chloe's Lie

y desk-a picture of Chloe and me from a year ago, on vacation in Italy. We looked happy, care

he' d "loan" him, which I knew was never paid back. The way she defended his every flaw and failure. I had seen it all as her being kind, compassionate. Now I saw it

ertainty. The argument wasn' t a bump in the road. It was

s started coming

regret th

by your attitude. He

you are forcing my ha

rt while later, she stormed back into

d, standing in the doorway of my

id calmly, not looki

y over my family, over

already made the choice. You chose Liam. You' re just

ker of shock in her eyes be

ce cracking. "You' ll see! You

ound echoing through the empty house. I felt a st

eaded out, pounding the pavement of the quiet, wealthy neighborhood, trying to outrun the mess my life had become.

it out, annoyed, and saw an unknown number. I

ell

emale, sharp, and instantly

lowing to a walk. "To wh

ur number. I need your ID number. Your full name, date of birth, the works. I' m sending my assistant

t I almost laughed. No romance, no preten

in a hurry

ll through," she said. "Are you in or are you

uman history, and it was exactly what I nee

she said,

strange smile on my face. This was

a car screeched to a halt beside me. T

anded, her eyes wild. She must have been

of your busin

aced with a venom that surprised me. She had always despised Sarah, seeing her

if it

forbid you from inviting her to our wedding! She' s a snake, Ethan, she'

ed himself from the seat. He walked around the car and took Chloe' s hand, lacing

. We didn' t mean to upset you. Chloe and I were just... practicing. For the wedding proced

unning. He was openly flauntin

ted, my voice dripping

that was pure theater. "Please, don' t be angry. I know I made you uncomfortable at the memo

vile, that I was momentarily speech

fury. "You monster!" she screamed, and before I could rea

it was worse than the pain. She had hit me.

"He' s still grieving, and you go and desecrate his

t of the protector. He looked at me over her shou

e breaking. "Don' t hurt Chloe. It' s

violent one, and Chloe as the victim he had

y away from us," she hissed. "Don' t you dare show your face

they sped off into the night, leaving me s

hloe again. I let it go to voicemail.

ast night! They found the coffin empty! It was you, wasn' t it? You s

rt of it snagged my attention. The gr

whole thing-the dying wish, the filial piety, the rus

espionage. "I have a job for you," I said. "I need you to find someone. A woman named Eleano

than three hour

ng in a private villa in the Caribbean for the last four months. The purchase was made with funds from a

mother, looking tanned and healthy, sipping a co

uld have ever imagined. Chloe hadn't just been lyi

ing on my screen. This wasn' t about filial

ound my conversation with Chloe. I attached the phot

ed a singl

he' s feelin

it

-