dn' t let the

s, her glares follo

es charity auction, a night of for

saw her

of champagne flutes, she

sive Persian rug, and I sprawled, humiliated,

e room. Victoria' s was the

g, isn' t she?" she

e, but this time, it was overlai

part of t

ht on cue, Et

a perfect blend of concern and

ked, his voice carrying just e

oiding his gaze, playing the

glass from my sleeve. "Victo

. "Oh, please, Ethan. S

e away, towards

he said softly. "She' s

it. My

then another. I let

ered, my voice thick with manufactured pain. "

stening. "You' re the only one who' s e

? A dawning realization that I might be more

was too painful. I' d rehearsed this. A carefully curated t

fill in

my arm. "You are strong, Rai

Or he was a very, very

er the guests had left, after Victoria

e to m

e of our last encounter, but wit

f my lonely, difficult life, emphasizing my v

fasci

He saw someone he could save, someone

ne affair beg

rom the first, cal

seducing the innoc

n, his own quiet ambitions, his subtle resentments towards the

ith Victoria' s possessiveness, with Arthur' s domineer

s an ally,

was becoming my mo

mained blissfully unawa

he pathetic girl pini

"Still dreaming, Raina? Etha

le faintly an

ence was h

ence was m

was a sweet, happy baby, and I f

innocent in th

g of something soft, something al

her, and the cold resolve wou

g. And all Ki