Cost

l eager for the next morsel of scandal. It was nearing the end of the year, the time when ratings dipped and editors

this. My publicist handed me a small card, listing the points I needed to cover: a vague statement about Faron's "personal challenges,"

. His newest plaything, a wide-eyed ingénue, clung to his arm, giggling softly. "Fa

lans for tonight." He gestured impatiently at his wrist, where an expensive watch gleamed. "Ten minutes, Elara. That's all I'm giving you. Then we're gone." He then turned to his publicist. "Tell those vultures o

is puppet. He wanted to appear magnanimous, perhaps to soften his image after the Kassie scandal. He often spoke of his infidelities as a "physical novelty," a need he couldn't c

would ever leave him. He would always just look a

oring the publicist's frantic calls. Flames licked at the sky, thick black smoke billowing into the crisp autumn air. The fire trucks were still minutes away. Panic seized me. I pl

you can protect anyone? You think you can build a life without me?" He pulled me into a tight embrace, physically lifting me, restraining my st

get your place. When you even think about leaving me. I hurt y

only one who truly loved me, I thought in that moment of utter

y minor injuries. They were shaken, terrified, but alive. I was relieved, but the incident left me wit

light, and her smile could have melted glaciers. I adored her, and she clung to me, her small hand a constant anchor in mine. Faron had even seemed to soften around her, a brief, perfect period where I almost believed the nightmare was over, that we could bu

d adjusting her IV drip when no one else was present. The second was a complex financial trace, linking a shell corporation of Faron's to a seven-figure deposit in an offshore account belonging to Kassie. The final piece was a hacked video from Kassie's laptop. She was on a video c

he money trail, the pieces clicking into place with horrifying certainty. I felt like a madwoman, caught bet