inted in stark black ink. Four heirs to the four most powerful families in the city, our rivals and alli

ut firm. "You turn twenty tomorrow. It's time. Your mo

to choose him. For years, I had chased after him, my devotion a public spectacle, a long-running joke in our elite circles. They

one that ended with the screech of ti

hat had lived with me since I woke up in my own bed

had finally won Ethan' s heart. That joy had shattered just a year later. He had stood before a crowd of reporters, his arm around his as

ophia vanished

ving hell. He brought a new woman home every week, each one with the same soft brown hair and gentle eyes as Sophia. He would parade them in fro

aramedics pulled my broken body from the wreckage of my car. The brake

s voice pulled me b

list again. I would not choose Ethan Miller. I would not walk that path aga

Tho

a minor player compared to the titans on the list. But he was kind

, my voice steady. "I'll give you

rful alliance. He just didn't know my definition of smart had chan

nd fake smiles. I felt a hundred pairs of eyes on me, all

I saw

ed suit clinging to his broad shoulders. He looked exactly the same. The same charming smile

oration. It was the instinct of a

ng for him as he made his way toward me. I squared my shoulders and kept my expres

just in front of me, his presence overwhelming. "Yo

ved this was all for him. He believed I

lf, Ethan," I rep

did nothing. "Still playing hard to get? I have to admit, it's a new l

an cold. W

errifying. A second chance for me was one thing, but a second chance f

stured to a young woman who was

innocent eyes stepped forward. She look

aid, draping a possessive arm around her should

sick game. He was showing me her

le smile. I felt a flicker of pity for her.

. "It's a pleasure

anted tears, jealousy, a scene. I gave him nothing. I just wat

ss. Pinned there was a small, diamond-and-sapph

mach c

designing it. It was a one-of-a-kind piece, a birthday g

oject. It was a message, loud and clear. Nothing you

m see the flicker of recognition in my eye

. A small, col

tanding there with his prize. The game had