ey. Silence descended, thick and suffocating. A bright red hand

belief, which quickly morphed into a storm of

ys filled her eyes when she looked at him were gone, replaced by an unnerving,

er voice was flat, devoid of emoti

his stinging cheek. He thought she was just throwing one of her rare t

night with perfect, agonizing clarity. This was the night Sophia had "accidentally" spilled a glass of

n't reach her eyes. "You're right," she said, her

relieved that the fight seemed to be over, he put the car back

cture of delicate beauty in a white Dior gown. She looked anxious, biti

her arm through Brant's. "Brant, you're finally here! I was so w

le, poisonous barb aimed at paintin

t the memory of the slap and the lingering sting on his cheek made him hes

She brought a hand to her mouth in exaggerated shock. "Oh my

g nearby to turn and stare. She was casting Vivienne

poorly acted rerun of a show she already knew the ending to. She saw a waiter

l happeni

with a theatrical little gasp, pretended

me, Vivienn

ark red liquid was about to arc through the air,

d into empty space. The entire glass of Bordeaux emptie

lookers. The dark red stain bloomed acro

okay?" He steadied her, then turned on Vivienne, his face a mask o

nd defense of the other woman. But this time, th

ble. "Brant, are you blind?" Her voice was qui

on the ceiling above the entrance. "There's a camera right there. Why don't we ask the hotel m

in her eyes froze. She had never, in a million years, ex

whisper. "Brant, it's okay, never mind. It was probably my fa

tive retreat. Vivienn

, authoritative tone. "Excuse me. Could you please get your manager? I believ

ked like she was about to faint. Brant, caught between his fiancée's unyie

rief explanation from Vivienne, and her calm insistence, he reluctantly ag

Reed take a glass of wine, turn, and deliberately throw herself in Vivienne's d

ace burned with a humiliation so intense it was almost visible.

nderous shade of grey. She leaned in close, her voi

think I'm the one