rets, at least drink your mimosa while you're at it," Isla teased,

tive like the peace she felt in this moment. The garden was all pastels and shadows, sun-kissed leaves trembling with bre

s, poured more champagne into her flute. "Y

. She covered it with a

vienne replied. Her tone wasn't s

ths like pearls, stringing them into elegant warnings. She was poised, a goddess of soci

er voice thinner than she'd meant it to b

hand. Her warmth was always real. Always uncomp

er glass down and leaned back in her sea

steel. Georgia felt it punch s

different now. Colder

hostess. In her place stood a sentinel. "No. He's

ed. "What are

wer does things to men like Weston. It reshapes them. You left for a reason.

e table. Even the bi

ith care. "You're wrong. He hasn't changed as much as he pr

d. She stood. "Then you

for the bottle and poured herself a generous

's words sank into her skin like ice. Not when somethi

d open before she eve

olled to the elbows, exposing strong forearms and a tension t

e br

behind her, quietly. "

urself. I had som

be intimidated by the fury in his stare. "Was this

e. "I know you were with Vivienne and

Eavesdropping now, too?

sn't trust me. You knew that

. A laugh. A day without your su

hen he spoke, his voice dropped low

at I'm some puppet master pulling strings?

ot here for love. You're he

arply, but didn't look away. "And what about you

hen he turned his back on her, w

affection," he said. "You'r

the truth into him so forcefully it would leave bruises. But instead,

ws longer. And the man downstairs no less a st

lope was

parchment mocked her, its perfect edges too pristine to have com

a single

st

urn curls and a knowing smile. Her dress was blood red. Her hand rested

the n

neck

from Weston on her twenty-first birthday. One of a kind.

around another

fingers. Betrayal bloomed, thick and sour. But more than that confus

re? During th

e was i

ng. No name. No message. Just silence and

ck so

eath s

ned the door a crack. No one was there. But at

e was

andwriting she d

's trapped. He's hidin

hallway, heart a storm

her no longer fel

lt like

had just ch