Nine Choices, One Final Goodbye

sia

pathy. She played the part of the concerned friend

eyes like vultures circling. I could fe

dly to another woman, but her words were meant for me. "Eve

for you. In his own way." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspirator

smile playing on her lips. "After all

break any further, seemed to shatter into a million tiny pieces. The r

y?" My voice was

se you on his own? He was a mess after I left. He needed someone stable. Someone... simple. Unproblematic. I knew you'd be p

ure cracked. I stumbled back, away from her,

in the cool night air, my hands

holder; I was a hand-picked pawn in her sick, manipulative game. I was the quiet, stable wife who would look th

layed my pa

They're starting a game inside. Mr

ost. Sofia was at the center of a cir

are a story about the most extravagant thin

go first, Fia! I bet

oth as silk, "there was the time he chartered a private jet to Paris for

hat weekend. Rico had told me he had an urge

m, "there was the time he bought out an entire firewor

was a corporate event he was required

trip. He'd missed the anniversary of my father's d

g. My stomach churne

meone called out. "Wh

tive, knowing look on her

he doors to the

walke

. The tension melted from his shoulders, replaced by a look of pure, undiluted re

ding ten feet away, and I was com

d straig

is voice low, meant only for

inny Salerno, one of Sofia's reckless associates. He was breaking *Omertà*, the sacred code of

ing past me with a flicker of rec

" I said, my

seemed to register my words, his att

y voice firm. "

oked perfect. The beautiful, toxic prince and