hure in her hand. "The Sanc

entity, a secluded h

r, all chosen, all

go, a stylized wave cras

erasure, a chance to build walls so high no on

terrifying, an

alize the arra

"Mrs. Croft? They're wa

he brochure i

wti

nnual gala, an event Julian, her hu

t," a celebration of her

Julian Croft, the devoted husband

e assistant and walked to

as deafening a

tage, beaming, his arm

the adoring spouse i

plified by the speakers, "my incredible wife

blic display of affection

meras

the perfect heires

felt like a

an whispered at a nearby table as J

e personally oversaw every detai

her with de la Renta for their

snippets of

formance, just a

is eyes, the way his smile never qui

the early day

love, who had tossed her

ld, who collected h

ared then, a ro

nderstanding, every

been he

he had

d. Years of careful grooming, culminat

table, a tray of champagne

lian was there, his hand stea

id, a charming smile f

my love? Wouldn't want any of th

ct gesture fo

throat tight. "I

y, a man named Marcus, approache

ak about the new acquisition? Handled. Th

darling? Nothing to worry your pretty

e was protecting her, her i

ing his meticulously cr

, strained smile. "

lief. Just a dull a

phone, lying face up

t fro

s being impossible about th

the phone, his brow furro

attentiveness

ready rising. "A small family mat

y glance

e back

ady to his ear, his voice low

tched

It was a fami

phone, her fingers fl

Instagram st

ully in a luxurious boutique

emergency! 😜 SOS @JulianCrof

ust Liv, demanding attention, an

ady scarred, felt

s second. Alw

lowing Liv around every party, his

oo serious, too quie

stung, even after

been so dif

ted her pain, promised her a

the pieces Eth

r believe in

ool she'

f nausea

eeded

murmuring something a

guests, the clinking glasses,

ed corridor leadin

e cool wall, she t

she heard t

n and

cove just around the co

an was saying, his voice a low murmur

u love playing hero. Besides, the takeover plans are almost ready. We just need to

Takeover?

et her to trust me with managing them. Another few months, and we can trigger the clauses we need. Once s

here with me, won't you, darling? Af

d ran cold.

r heard him direct at her. "She was just a means to an end. A very patient, very elaborate means.

purred. "You always kno

and to her mouth

d rushed to Liv' s side, leaving Ava to fen

of "unwavering support," the large donation to research in her name. A

ure, every whispe

in love with Liv. He had used Ava

nd Eleanor Chen, they

ial media star. Ava, the

ad chos

sted with her broken heart, had built their ent

Everyone

was a suffoc

a cold, hard ang

pawn. She wouldn

brochure in her clu

ife. Fabricate

nded i

manufactured love, or a life she man

ision w

d her own world, a world where she

, even if she had to buy it,

exist. And someone new w