aps in the wooden blinds, stabbing d

rsh light. She reached her

ld and empty. Jett

e tightly around her shivering shoul

r of her nightstand was a mass

udden, painful jol

on. Her fingers were trembling. She opene

The leather smelled rich and new. It wa

ndle was a sma

t the bottom was a stamped print from

y Birthday. Attend the gala

red her birthday. She convinced herself that having his assistant sign it was just J

hands. A fragile, bitter

t an hour picking out an elegant, deep emerald-green eveni

imbed into the back of the black

tan skyline looming ahead. The SUV pulled to a smooth stop

ista stepped out, gripping the h

grand entrance and into

ding light across the room. Camera flashes

e room. Instantly, she felt the

heads. Their eyes dragged up and down he

spoken to last month. She forced a poli

t her, turned her back completely

. She quickly lowered her arm and squeezed the h

yramid. She picked up a cold flute, using t

walked up to the marble pillar rig

the first woman whispered loudly. "Para

gives out to all the executives' wives this year. The real VIPs get the custom

ntire body

hand. The cold liquid spilled over

hand. Her stomach dropped so fast she felt phys

her husband. It was an

he had nurtured all morn

m felt thick and suffocating. She needed to

double doors of the ballroom w

ied instantly. Every single he

The blood drained from her

o the room. His long stride

m, smiling brightly for the flash

, soaking in the attentio