thick and unmoving-almost like her thoughts. A chill pressed against the glass, but it was nothing compared

th stiff politeness. She'd walked through marbled halls wearing silk. And now, as

iza, one of the maids, stepped in w

red. "There's... coverage of you on th

ly, her brow fur

uickly left the room, as if the s

pped th

at some past gala. The headline read: Julian Crane's

d delicately around his arm. The world around them blurred in a sea of flashing camer

recognized

s voice played o

covering following a serious car accident. Known for their elusive but passionate relationship, the couple has long

ps parted

A gossip columnist with

She's been a mystery from the start, and now her return has sparked a media

used th

Private.

ow the wor

eally who

d secrets. There was no trace of the fear she felt now. No indication of the dista

saw a fa

he pages of a storybook

tablet. She didn't know which was worse: that pe

made her smile like that-was a hope she couldn't afford to carry.

ragging her down into the ques

he before

to survive being

her so deeply that s

roke her trance. Footsteps-meas

li

rfection, eyes flicking briefly to the pause

" he said, his v

ng the tablet down

n," she said. "The one they're sh

a smirk and a sigh. "Public image is rarely

was a

unified. Strong. Untouchable. T

?" she asked, c

lightly. "Complicat

real, Julian. I feel like a gh

uietly. "But you're

by the sincerity in his v

y, "but I know what it feels like to be unlove

tween them like a

ghtened, but he

"I made mistakes. I let my ambition d

, but all she saw was restrained

me I believed you. Maybe even loved you. Bu

y for the fir

ot telling me

admitted.

ted. "Then how c

et. But I'm not going to walk away from

scream. Cry. R

eft the room, leaving behind the

nce more at the woman on the screen-the woma

if she wanted to

ing to find ou

ing down the illusion