the shouted questions and the frantic clicking of shutters, her focus a laser beam on the open door of the waiting cust

drive, Stella sat in perfect stillness, the city lights painting fleeting patterns across

ngle, deep breath, then swung one stilett

blinding assault. She resisted the instinct to squint, her lips curved into a serene, practiced smile. T

ainst the carpet behind her. Her eyes scanned the crowd, not with the nervous energy

ressed in a custom gown of virginal white. She was smiling

ssed her face before it was expertly masked. She excused herself from the interview and, gathering the s

undred lenses swiveling to capture the reunio

s voice was honey-sweet as she linked

e soft flesh of Stella's inner arm, a sha

ough Stella-Emilie's face, illuminated by fire, her smile twisted and u

pull away. Instead, she turned her head just enoug

nomous whisper. "That color makes you look like a cheap escort.

une and her dignity for Holden-only to be pushed into the fire. The memory flas

erfect echo of the past. The confirmation set

d, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Right after t

stumbled, made a fool of herself for the cameras. Tonight, she felt n

s face. She decided to escalate. Feigning a turn to wave at a photographer, she delibe

lla felt the sharp tug, the backward

ed herself, her core tight, her weight shifte

h in a flawless performance of shock and remorse. "Oh, my God, S

a, began to close in. Their microphones

right, ladies?" o

ugh to be picked up by the nearest mics. "I'm just worried about my sister. With the news abou

directly at Stella's reputation. She's unstable

her for the very first time. It was a look of such profound contempt, such utter dismi

n a waiter passing by with a tray of champagne flutes. With a smooth,

e she had held such a glass-toasting Holden's success while he and Emilie plotted her ruin. The memory sharpened her resolve. She knew Emilie was already fram

breath. Three steps. Stella stopped directly in front of Emilie, looking down at her from a full head's height. A flic

d, Stella til

erfectly coiffed hair, streaming down her face a