y the patio doors. Her face w

Ali's skin. "Look at you. You're a disaster. Go through the servants

have shrunk into herself, ashamed of ruining the

at Carroll's h

she

r mouth opening sli

r tone flat. "This is my party. Wh

he walked past her, her wet bare feet slapping against the polishe

or the changing room

she saw Ali, she let out a sob

h my god, ar

zm

Ali. In the timeline she had just left, Jazmyne had died because of her. Sh

e reached out and touched

," Ali whisper

ked at the ruined silk. "An

the pocket. Before laying the garment on the velvet ottoman, she discreetly slipped the cold, metal obje

nt was undeniable. It wasn't just a jacket; it was a piece of

pped th

read, barely visible aga

signature of a tai

ickened. Isa

ad pulled her out. And

mories, he was a distant figure, a political fixer who occasionally vi

had died

p a garment bag. "Mrs. Lancaster pr

ipped t

to choke a Victorian widow. It was a dress designed to make Ali look mee

r hair was wet, slicked back. Her mascara had

aring that,

's the onl

eyes landed on a pair of fabri

it t

d Ali the dre

ars. The metal w

o the high lace collar and ripped. The sound o

!" Jazmyn

e skirt that went all the way up to her mid-thigh. She plunged the

to the ruined,

her damp skin like a second layer of armor. It looked

rting gift from Catarina's nails during the struggle-w

Ali ordered Jazmyne, who wa

ut

idence,"

ore's jacket. She

az. Don't let anyone touc

looked at Ali with

ould hear Cody's voice on the

Didn't even think about my

ened t

oism to a group of debutantes. When he saw Ali, he st

the slit in her dress, then to the raw

ickly, Mr. Stev

devoid of the ador

d at his cuffs. "I ha

ser to him. "How convenient. And your hair? Di

giggled. Cody's face

good stylist,

id. "Or maybe you

was waving frantically from the ballroom entranc

k a dee

to a party. She was w

the double