ai

cast

aching, broken. Every step away from the life I'd once known felt like a cruel echo of failure.

cing through every word. My heart clenched with guilt. I walked on, arms wrapped ti

trands of hair from my face. Hunger gnawed at my stom

ried, Edith remained trapped inside, her spirit restless. The seal Cole's father tried to

ver truly

don't think he's the one our soul yearns for,"

e sky, clouds heavy and gr

h thick with exhaustion. "If I don't find work, I'll be labeled

Alaina. We can figure

her than to myse

-

pavement, the kind of stillness that clung like a second skin. I pau

arp stare and a trash bag

to stay?" Her voice w

ted. "Um

in before I could finish. "That's $1000 upfr

xpensive. I didn't have a dime, let alone a thousand

ould we possibly work out a lower ra

t you already working? Or are

it harder than

. compl

ed, setting the trash down with fina

! Ple

I could finish. Alone ag

jaw tight. "No. I won

-

, shops, every door closed before I even got a

ious five-star hotel, standing under crystal chandeliers and

aught my eye-Hirin

ened. I hurried to

," I said, more hopeful

ounter blinked. "Oh...

That

sperate to fill that role. Hold on a m

clink of silverware from the dining area, the quiet hush that only wealth c

poised, with stern brown eye

ing for work

es

olly. "We get dozens of appl

paces, worked with teams, led a pack. I'm... ad

aid n

ce lower now. "I haven't eaten today.

ou'll do one task. Deliver th

!" I said, rel

d guest reviews, don't mess it up," she

st, who was now placing a

handle this?" she

o know my way around," I replie

-

ways with a confidence I didn'

nced down

nd

iou

Hotels stocked all sorts of thing

twice. N

my hand again,

here

is shoulders, water still clinging to his ches

Strong jaw

eart

n Mar

red that face too well, from the banqu

n't recog

y eyes fixed on the box in my han