viev

cracked, a spiderweb of gla

ing I had designed, though you wouldn't find my name on the brass plaque in the lobby. He held

vowed in the video. "To cheri

ady had five

my jeans. I had packed the last box an hour ago. My flight to Florence was in two days. I was

reeched to a hal

e's growl. I knew exactly how he d

o-impeccable suit, hair perfectly styled, the scent of expensive sa

ing toward me. "I've been call

really looked at hi

ce," I said, holding up the sh

You know how the industry works. Everleigh

said flatly. "The

ulled back. He looked hurt, as

that used to make my knees weak. "But I care about you. I feel respon

me to stay in the shadows. To take the bla

to take care of you. I want you to be part

oth. The public princes

ice steady. "How have I

stion. "I... I assume you're fine

t scraped my throat. "I was bleeding out on a

went slac

ss. The malnutrition. The fact that the father of my child asked me to

cally struck him. Color drained from his face. "N

Because the truth d

A flash of genuine horror in his eyes. He open

n,

nat

cut through the

stepped out. She was wearing white, of cou

bbing his arm, her nails di

ng her gaze to me. Her eyes were cold, dead things. "Genevieve.

verleigh's tear-filled eyes. The horror in his expression fade

muttered, putting a

he opened her designer purse

fake sympathy. "I know it's hard. Living in a plac

ipped the paper out with a sh

a nice apartment. Buy some new

eck. It was for te

e years of my life. For my i

d your chari

could hear. "You're pathetic. He doesn't want you. He n

y gasped. She stumbled ba

screamed. "She p

. I hadn't m

t ask for the truth. He spun around an

Are yo

bed into his chest. "She's j

were hard. Accusing. The guilt from moments ago

om us, Genevi

e wind biting thr

" I asked quietly. "Is this

er. He just he