The Unshakeable Queen Returns

s the first pair of cufflinks she had ever bought him, simple silver knots. He was just a struggling junior programmer back then, full of big dreams and a self-deprec

first round of funding. "I' ll spend my whole life making you happy, Aliyah," he had promised, h

gh escaped her lips. Wh

ng her from the past. "Aliyah, are you ready? P

e a doll being positioned for a play. He led her downstairs, hi

ng modern house she had designed. It was supposed to

ested. Instead, a loud, thumping pop song with an obnoxious bass line echoed through the open-pl

rners, their faces a blur of poli

all

was wearing a tight, inappropriately short black dress. And she was taking a selfie. She held her phone

through Aliyah. She broke away from Bene

nk you' re doing?" Aliyah

ms. I was just... paying my respects." She posted the photo to her Instagram

d the phone from Kendall' s grasp.

hissed. "Get out

l performance. "I' m so sorry," she whimpered. "I didn' t mean any disrespect.

d tearing through the party music. "He hate

is grip like iron on her arm. He put himself betw

e making a scene!" he wh

emorial!" Aliyah cried, struggli

nearby guests to hear. He was playing to the crowd. "Kendall was very close to

olate her. The murmurs started around them. People shifted unco

yah said, her voice dropping to a shocked whisp

n' t have come. It' s just... I feel so guilty. Maybe if I had been a better nanny... but

nomous twist of a conver

" Aliyah spat, lu

shoved her back, har

ad put his hands on he

she said, her voice shaking as she retrieved her phone from the floor. "I did

e, angling the scree