ombe foyer sparkled like i

saw everything

he floral arch would fit for her bridal photos. This time, her heels stru

ans

taphorically

her white satin robe flowing like a banner. She held a teacup, but n

int smile that didn't reach

the same hour," Alora replied, stepping into the marble-clad battl

, intrigued. "So it's t

her eyes. "Yo

ust a breath, befo

s family doesn't operate on surpri

ive Days Befo

as late, and the fire snapped softly behind them. He looked th

rry Alora,"

She sipped her non-ex

hard to be the man she needed.

responded. "

wer, but that w

im. I built this family back from ashes-literally. You'll marry

u," Jeff sa

the fireplace, her s

said. "You

n the

in his fat

corated. Faux-royal. But per

s pale. His suit looked slept in. His

ame,"

behind her like she

me why I should walk away without pressing charges, bu

aught. "I deser

ogies," she snappe

rd, but stopped wh

ryone wanted me to be. The man you thought I was. But every

slowly, like d

have to pr

ht maybe if I married someone kind, som

her head. "Bu

r years. But I never stopped loving her. And when

dow, watching the stor

her voice level. "You didn't just break

," he w

t know what it's like to build your life brick by brick just to watch someone set

d toward

as the one who pushed her away. Faye left because

xing yourself, you de

lock on the wall ticked like it

id something

you, Alora. And th

hed, cold

are. Not anymore. Y

and walked

fol

he same girl who left. There's something darker in her now. S

nd you're just no

mitted. "But she said no. She said we hav

spine st

oes tha

rd the dark hall

ster's not here to take me from yo

That Night at A

lit. The wind rattled the windows. She sat

type

E + MISS

in Cape Raven's archives. A blurry photo in a San Dieg

t caught he

VESTORS SUE ART

lias. She had been sued-accused of art

rolled

dismi

main witne

arges

back, hear

just retur

m her power-and mayb

e – A Lett

k at t

open

Only a black envel

e, a

Meet me at the cliffs tomorrow at dusk

Fa

ed out int

rumble

ething else rumbled t

fi