sley

my employees before the mask I wore all morning slipped off. I had kept it together in front of everyone-standing tall,

e. And it hurt more than I

f her death came in waves, each one sharper than the last. Maybe it hurt more now because the reality

e forever. She had carried my child, and with her death, I lost t

. Betrayal. The image of her with another man flashed in my min

welcomed it. I wanted the alcohol to erase everything-every memory, every fee

er name in my mind. Selena. My lover. My world. Where was she now? Was s

a heavy fog. I had failed h

houghts. At first, it was faint, lik

gsle

omeone was

arning, and suddenly the bott

cutting through the fog in my mind. I scowle

k you're doing?" I snapped

s to yourself? Drinking alone, wasting aw

hing myself up. But the room spun, and I st

ed, crossing her arms. "N

forward, grabbing her by t

away. "You're hurting yourself, Kingsl

bitterly. "Everyone

idn't love you. She... she's gone. Bu

know about loss? About betrayal? About watc

athryn's eyes, but I didn't care. I reached for a

gsley. You can't

ry," I m

don't know what she did to you, b

hollow, bitter sound. "She lied. She be

ached for mine, b

hispered, her voice softe

er, empty. "There's n

urned and left, the door

closing my eyes. But the d

mem

ryn'

ainst the wall, trying to catch my breath. My arm throbbed where his fingers had left marks, but I couldn't l

I thought I could handle this-that I could make Kingsley see me, cho

sn't ready

mixture of pain, fear, and burning determination. I covered the bruises with mak

oblem. But now she w

o I

e came back, haunting him? Or worse-what i

doubts. I had come

e herbal tonic shimmered inside it. It was supposed to cal

red, clutching the vial tightly.

more potent. He would crave my prese

to the mirror. "If life won't give m

Not to a memory, and c

as ready to do whatever it