ella

minating the exotic orchids and lush ferns that filled the humid air with a heavy, sweet fragrance. It was a place of warmth and

rose garden yesterday, Mona and Julian would be panicki

tly in front of her. She had perfectly applied a touch of pale powder to her chee

perhaps remembering my cold dismissal yesterday. "I couldn't sleep all night. Julian

er sip of my tea, letting the silence stretch

pping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Julian and I stayed up all night tryin

the Valeriano name and my rightful share of the trust, I can finally enter high society properly. I can use that influ

ree for his upcoming Senate run. Mona, the dirty little secret, the illegitimate half-sister, was a political liabili

, waiting for me to fall into her trap,

down on the saucer. The sharp *cli

man held captive by the most powerful man in Chicago, to risk his displeasure by contacting my fa

nto her suddenly trembling form. "T

ened and closed, but no sound came out. The beautiful, tragic mask she had worn s

ed sister she had mocked behind closed doors was dead. In her place sat a

ut, her voice trembling with a toxic mi

leaning back in my chair. "And I know that you are standing

cade of the loving sister completely abandoned. "Damien Moretti wi

ing all the contempt I held for her bleed into my eyes. "Leave. But if you want my final answer r

her standing alone among the beautiful, suffocating flowers. T