like a secret she'd not intended to keep, its fine lace curling up her collarbone like a repressed breath. She stood still, tight-back

d from the side of the room, her vo

a pawn," Is

boutique. Her reflection aligned with Isla's in the mirror-tall, lovely, unafr

n neckline shimmering in the light of the chandelier. But nothing could take away from the weight in her chest. She was not the sort of woman wh

resided in her furrowed brow the entire morning. "Y

words little more than a whisper. "My

nd turned her head. "Yeah," she said. "And Milton knows it

o speak what they both knew. This wasn't love. This wa

e pinned by the seamstress. She stayed stati

h an orchid and sky arch. Isla had her hair curled, her makeup glossed into perfection.

rapher instructed him to. But Isla sensed the burn of his gaze when he thought she wasn't aware. It wasn't lust. Not

h a cheerful obliviousness that felt like cruelty. "Let's try

ly. Alexander's eyes met

under his breath. A scoff to

"You're doing an exce

are

ose. Shutter cl

the rooftop with his aide, muttering over a tablet filled with travel schedules and press releases.

into his space. "But if you hurt her more than you alread

lift his head. "Is

Nina snapped. "There is a

es rose. Cold. Calculated.

lready know I'm the

eform what you're doing. Writ

imousine, by the window, watching the city turn to sunset and dark. The closer they got to the estate, the more her st

a herself. Her blood, her heritage, her very presence. At the rehears

," he'd warned Alexander in public

n reply. Not in public. But

dress was hung away, hair unpinned. She wore a soft robe, and her skin crawled with e

der Milton Weds the Daughter of

ks Corporate War: Pow

he Invisible Girl Now

round and allowed her to

in the hospital, his bony fingers wrapped in hers, the contortion through the pain. "You'r

back a sting

e door that shuddered h

open-to find no one there. Just a lit

, in bol

inside, written i

oke you. But I hope you remember who you are. Not his wi

ature.

efully folded it, and

rings in a velvet case. His phone rang once more-another ne

A soft smile, a tilt of the head, a face full of warmth he had was

f what he was trying

sed th

the door o

tside Isl

quivered, r

gs he could say. Should sa

as let his hand f

ing like stars behind the curtain. Her head was muddled, heavy. But deep insi

nown that. But maybe-just maybe-ho

letter again and smoothe

the dress. Smile into

sit in quiet and

s

wn. Not

maybe, not broke