riffin Estate, the house

as probably busy comforting that

into the study on

stood a floor-to-ceili

paintings, but meticulously

y landmark project Griffin Group had

roduct of my countle

riffin Group, but he di

k, or a bid reached a critical stage,

ect means everything to me. Onl

udrey L

was al

ollected international awards w

I chose to remain th

name-or that of the Gri

"business prodigy" and

del at the very center of

im during our first

e, had been glued into

on had left my eyes bloodshot, yet the excited kiss he ga

it was nothi

lbox and took ou

gleamed coldly

ase and lifted Aethe

exquisite. St

stakingly maintained-polished on

rike shatter

across the back of my hand, l

t not

low split th

again and again, my

ove, and five years of my youth col

d wood, and shards of glass

staring at the blood on my hands, and

oy it

ything c

f it, then I would take i

e phone on th

, my mother-in-law, He

took a deep breath, a

lena's voice carried its u

es

e's busy with company matters and can't pick you up. Drive yourself. Dress appropriately. Don't embarrass t

e covering the floor an

company

ping Marcus's "

derst

quickly cleaned an

the cut, but it couldn't se

to the dres

ntless clothes, mostly i

d me looking li

ted

the closet, I pulled o

t myself and n

gly low, exuding a cold elegance that

w a sharp winged liner, and

ror looked both fami

please were gone, replaced b

ls, picked up my clutch, and wa

time to step int