ie

k my silence

ter, he assumed he had finally broken me completely. He thought I

wasn't broken.

is time, it wasn't just a dinner. It was the annual "State of the Union"

nail salons and the hushed tones on the terrace at the country club all said the same

e guest bedroom. I had moved out of the master s

metal steel. High neck, long sleeves, bac

arms crossed tightly over her chest. "You have enough evi

oat of dark red lipstick. "If I leave after tonight, I leave as a survivor.

o bring her,"

kno

ate cars. The flashbulbs popped

rpet alone. Head hi

ent of expensive perfume and old money hung

room we

s wal

sn't

e was wearing white. A

reath away for a secon

espect. He looked powerful. He looked like a king. And she was b

ked righ

ere invisible. As if nine years of marriag

-and pulled out the chair to his righ

m. This was a breach of protocol

e a scene. I

st empty chair, next to a low-level capo who looked te

ed wine. Spe

He looked out at the cro

. "It is the foundation of our power. And tonight, I want

nd looked d

eginnings

om echoed, though many eyes

eaned over and whispered something in Marc

e looke

e length of the table, her white dress swi

es to hear. "You look tired. Are you feeling okay? Maybe you

A public eviction

he Thorne money for decades, chimed in from a nearby table. "Listen to he

ed in my lap, h

p close, I could see t

eone has to make sure the legitimate face of th

ile fa

bruptly. "I have

fell sile

are engage

room. He was stil

Thorne family," he continued, ignoring

ned the bridge while I

sed hi

too

cting a scream, a dri

pagne. I turned to Marcus. I

tions," I s

he glass down, and

zzy, she lean

Marcus, who was watching me with a

ispered to her. "I'm don

eavy doors closing behind me with a

victim anymor