e-Evelyn looking over her shoulder in a dark Brooklyn street. It played on repeat in my mind, blurry but haunting

The penthouse was still and silent, too large for one person to wake up in. I wrappe

e hallway, I nearly

ri

t beginning of stubble along his jaw. He looked like he hadn't slept either.

't sleep,

't a qu

did you,"

past me, heading toward the kitchen, and I followed without

s doing. For a moment, he looked at the second cup like it surprised him.

ed it t

ri

efully, watching

ms crossed, studying me with that unr

ng about the p

n," I answered softly. "N

eyes fixed on the floor for a brief, rare moment of distracti

n said. "But she never ran blindly. If she'

asking, "Do you bla

mine, sharper now.

're angry. But not only b

in his ja

ll did not enj

opened and Marcus stepped inside, carrying a

cing the tension in the room, adde

Evelyn's sighting is real. She was in Brooklyn two nights ago, th

pen, scanning the images.

us said. "V

hit me li

rily?" I

e wasn't forced. No struggle. S

mach t

ning from some

meeting

owly, as if fighting the

he driver?

you something else-your father is definitely involved.

Adrian's voice d

d. "Marriage

m went

ge con

anged m

marr

hammered

e shift in his presence

proof the bride was s

everything in

owing Victor, he won't

. "If he finds out

ment his walls slipped-not enough for me to see everyt

rriage is invalid," Adrian s

ull

itself in my che

kwell alliance," Mar

out," Adria

on hit me slo

nt back to

only wanted me

eadable. "You'd lose everything

ryt

de

ublic

umili

about Evelyn's

ed into had somehow beco

is throat. "We h

n't move.

Evelyn before Victor'

optio

eyes flicked toward me

strengthen the appear

s immediate an

ian tense

e the marriage is fake. Public events. Family dinners. Appearanc

eeks

art r

ession harden

ut of the

ther win. Unless you want him controlli

didn't

time, he seeme

we stick with optio

rd the door, pa

sually, "and Victoria

rian snapp

aid she wants to 'welcome the

od wen

ia Bla

mo

eakness as a flaw a

realizing he had stepped forward. His vo

il

es

e said, "you do not l

ath hi

not?" I w

-dark, intense, un

troys anything t

house door echoed sha

haled. "S

oor with the expression of