I just don't know the first thing about high-end fashion." It was a lie, of course. Chloe l

my voice barely a whisper. I was trying t

it was an order. "You'll take Chloe shopping and make su

late, a symbol of his control, of my complete lack of agency. I had no choice. Resisting w

e. Chloe dragged me from one designer boutique to another,

nt of the three-way mirror, turning t

e look fat? You're so thin, you probably don't have

nces, her curvaceous figure against my slender frame.

ring noncommittal hums and shrugs. My ind

ly tired of Chloe's games, approached me. "Ma

deep emerald green, a color I never wore, with a daringly low ba

n," the asso

for a few minutes, I agreed. I took the dress into the

lor made my skin glow and my eyes seem brighter. I stared at th

. The sales associate gasped. "It

nd a flicker of pure, unadulterated jealousy crossed her face before she could m

a bit too much for a charity gala, don't you t

" stumbled, sloshing her iced coffee all over the front of the

cried, her voice dripping with

ace a mask of concern. The dress was

e," I said, my voice lo

e for everyone in the store to hear. "Are you going to pay for that, Ava? Or are you just go

were staring, whispering. I was being painted as a gold

reak, a calm, deep voice

ake car

s and a gentle smile. It was Ethan, a friend of my father's business partner, the m

econd glance at the price tag. "And we'll take the dress as well

warmth and understanding I hadn't se

nly nod,

one, replaced by a cool, appraising look. "

t over," I said, my voice steady and clear. Then I turned my back on her, on the ru

loe watched us leave, her fa

ognized the quiet authority he carried, the effo

at me, with a tenderness L

snapped a picture of me walking away with him, a