Isabelle orchestrate

e. Lavish dinners, paparazzi-ready appearances, interviews where Julian hinte

o paint me as the spu

ome mainstream news outlets, picked up the narrative. Ethan

figure of

rdly unfazed by the whispe

ges of support, her anger at the Vance

oft – they were utterly i

ce we had begun, facilitated by Eleanor. Her let

protective, insisted I attend the an

ing no room for argument. "And you will hold you

personal aversion to su

sent a ripple through

like the rustle of silk.

a genius to f

rt, radiant and smug. Her dress was a confection of white

s; I was the defeated fool. Th

perceived victory, approac

d sympathy. "Ethan, old

g our engagement tonight, officially," she purred, loud enough

ronic though

te she was so smugly flaunting, was the exact date she and I we

ad a twisted s

ing my silence as distress,

he still hasn

ice so clear. He sh

as the pathetic one, still