rangers. One was me, Dr. Evelyn Reed, a year younger, my eyes bright with a naive belief in forever. The other was David Hayes, the man I was supposed to marry, his

d changed me, but it had turned Dav

lling me from the suffocating me

quiet." His voice was a warm an

ng out at the perfectly manicured garden

liked how the Hayes family operated, how their power seemed to bend the world arou

and now I've walked into a funeral for my own life," I said, my voi

erson I know. You're a brilliant doctor, you

ds were kind, but they felt distant. "She's here, Michael. Seraphina.

on the other end. "What?

him what he really wanted. And it wasn't me." The memory of our conversation from last nig

ot alone. Seraphina Thorne was attached to his arm, her smile as bright and artificial as the diamonds on her wrist. She was a soc

Seraphina the new acquisitions for the west wing." He didn

David has told me so much about your incredible work abroad. You're such an inspiration." Her

My focus was on him, the man who had sent me emails filled with love a

rs. Hayes is expecting us. You should join, Evelyn. We have so much to catch up on.

ce firm. "This is be

a stranger, not the man who had held my hand and talked about the names of our f

esent, and I was his past. My brother's voice was a faint, tinny sound from

gaining an edge I didn't know I had. "We were engaged

d. I don't want to be in the way of... closure." She framed it as a kindness

ce. It was the opening I needed. I took a step forward. "Five minute

e." He gestured for me to follow him into the adjacent library, a room fill

coldness remained, but it was now laced with irritation. "What

email, David. An email, after a year of radio silence for the final month, to t

to straighten a book on a shelf, an act of pu

d. "Or she changed y

e blame her. Seraphina understands me. She understands this life, the p

dical mission! Something we both agreed wa

And it doesn't help when my father is breathing down my neck about the future of this company. Seraphina is a partner.

me, replaced by a hollow ache. He had made his choice. It wasn

lightly. "It's over. I'll pack my

gle word was a command. "Y

ed. "What are you talki

nts insist. It's about appearances, Evelyn. A smooth transition. We were a public couple for year

break me, he wanted me to witness my own replacement, to smile

, finding my voice again

party on Saturday. You will act pleasant. If you don't, I will make sure Michael's little newspaper finds its funding suddenly cut.

t spot, as leverage. The kind, loving man I knew was gone, replaced by this cold, ruthless strategist. Se

all the cards. I was trapped. To fight him would be to sacri

was still on the line, he had heard everything. The

efeat, I gave a single, st

inner is at seven. Don't be late." He left without a backward glance, leaving me al