a –

ldn't

silence was too thick. Even the pillow felt li

om, my wedding dress lay crumpled like a ghost. A

delivered through his assistant. "He's not coming. He's sorry." That was i

ayal. It was the way Leonel Wolfe looked

ty me. He did

ered me

maybe a woman rebo

r and stared

ss. Who didn't flinch when I spit venom or set boundaries. A man

w, I'd move

is fi

his l

his

much more dange

a would e

ould never k

I w

let this arrangement des

om barefoot, letting the cold floor re

to clutter-my tiny apartment, the smell of old coff

e had weight. Like the

d to the window. The city sparkled benea

ing another deal, another acquisition, another plan

in me. Not weakness. Not

agreed to this deal because I refused to be pitied. The part that co

d on the nights

p at 10 a.m. Pack lightly. Anythin

o goodnight. Ju

ssage for a long ti

: "No

t add a

He was doing it for control.

. just maybe

limbed back into

ere for

it was-felt lik

limbed back into

ere for

it was-felt lik

as spilling in through the curtains, soft and golden. For one disorienting moment

ed dress across the

ved in with

ore. My bag sat open in the corner, untouched. What do you even pack when you're not

in black jeans, a neutral blouse, and tied my curls back i

a.m., a knock so

essed in a black suit, polite

before I walked out, suitcase rolling be

k Maybach. Of course. Leon

cessary. I spent the time watching the city blur past t

aight, my face composed. I'd worn this armor before. At galas. At busines

d. A butler greeted us, his expression u

t waiting at

rse he

evator again-only this ti

ush of scent hit me-cedarwood and somet

Elegant, minimalist, with pale tones and ch

the window. Everything here was curated, in

. "Mr. Wolfe has requested your presenc

tled

wasn't a

cked my reflection once, a

tablet. He didn't look up immediately. Just finished whatev

here to im

me. "No. You're here b

rous way-but in a way that made me f

begin Friday. Charity benefit. I've already cleared the gues

thing

ogether. "Yes. Stop looking at me lik

ologies," I said co

od then. Mo

hose you because you're not weak. Because the world already watches yo

ze. "You think

till standing. Tha

chill down my spine. Not fear.

spe

t the contract. The he

ent, it wa

e moment

parts. Just don't forget-I might

s eyes. "Good. Keep watching, Z

h that,