pte

A'S

as now cold. But panic clawed at my chest, forcing me

y still ached in places I wasn't ready to acknowledge. A reminder

, littl

Dad

my body, desperate to erase the filth of last night before I stepped

my step-sister's fiancé. Who

eady had breakfast. Dad scolded me for

e company to work, they're out... Having cou

Thoughts on how to save my shares before they were

f early evening. Lots of cars arranged thems

o many guests?"

her engagement party."

sts mingled, dressed in designer gowns and tailored suits. My stomach twisted in knots, but I forced myself forward. This

en

toward me, her diamond-studded hand wrapped possessively around t

eath

r

oat, groaning my name like a praye

anted to be c

and I felt the color

shed, practically glowing. "Lena,

omposed as ever. His dark eyes

myself to

felt. A result of working in the company and bei

d gleaming with the expensive ring. "Isn't he

scoffed. Then mask

tle, almost unnoticed his fingers tight

ay to see my beautiful s

e and her smile thinned. Su

ce sharpened. "You look li

utching the wine glass i

fiance left to socialize.

ateful when Dad calle

shifted from me, his own was

y for my sanity." I murmur

fore my father blocked me, his gri

major was going on. My father shut the door behind

argument. "You will be polite to Mr. Romero.

onstricted

was I

sharper. "I saw the w

shifted

ancé. And our family's future. I

my sides. "I'm not th

your shares of the

t me harder

disagree?" My

e Mrs. Romero. The merger strengthens our c

t before I could respo

o stood

before meeting my father's.

oated with a thin veneer of res

ed to me, colder than

is sta

-

the soft glow of candlelight.

felt

s never straye

olite smiles and light chatter. I could barely focus. My hands trembled

and sweet. "Leo, tell them about the

over steel. "I'd rather discuss something els

ran down

ay. There was only him, and

e never to speak

into me, slow and delib

n't fo

ing my head down, pretending not to feel the weigh

pped into the dimly lit

only reason she was even having my time was because Leonardo ha

I don't know what y

oser, her perfectly manicure

almost raised her voice. "Stay away from him, Lena. Leonardo

nod. I didn't even care about her fiance. If only we hadn't been tog

y in bed, my phone buzzed. A

egret wha

ling over me. I wanted to believe it was

thing fe

elt the need to thr

thunderstorm made everything even more eerie.

orning

f sirens shatte

t doors burst open, police o

the commanding officer in cha

t pounding as a chilling cr

a was

nsion was just waking up,