voices bled through the c

airless dark of the

tinct, metallic flick of his lighter,

whispered, rough with exhaustion. "Le

ense sharp on his tongue. "She listens to me, X. Sh

? Gia looks at me like she's waiting fo

is tone pragmatic. "You marry her,

ht himself. "Why do you think I'm still here? I just need

j

I felt the final strand of my patience fray

itchen smelled of rich

to himself, acting as if the world

brilliant smile that left the muscles around his

, pristine garment bag h

me? To make up

nergy to fight a war I had already

ustom-made by the finest atelier in Ital

The fabric was heavy, cool against my skin.

I looked like a ghost. A sac

g paused halfway to his m

his gaze raking over the

hone

et. He looked at the screen, and

already moving, grabbing

wedding dress," I s

y with the shipment at the docks.

out t

t kiss m

ence, the heavy silk of the skirt

my phone and opened Instagram. I n

ded one minute ag

will the pain fin

ks. He was running to save

ait

er, another p

audio distorted by the gale. The camera sh

. And

one he'd worn this morning. He was kissing her forehea

voice to the micropho

ing. Forget everyone else. Yo

e love leaves everyth

and chilling cal

hen drawer and took

uminous skirt of

n

ing-a violent crunch

ked at the train until the masterpiece was nothing but ri

white silk, standing in the de

. A text from a

ened

tangled mess of sheets. His face was buried in her

text f

're too stiff. Too much like a

the heartbreak. But I felt nothing except a wave

a sing

p h

locked t

setting. I stepped in, scrubbing my skin until it was raw and red

I wrapped a towel around mys

It was a woman preparing for a trial, a