is tech empire with my inheritance, but for months, his a
ent back to our apartment to get my mother's neck
ket, claiming it was an accident. When I lunged at her
he said coldly. "I'll
rew a painful secret from my past in my face-a trauma I had only eve
her the weapon
't just cheated; he had used my money to build
I had created and
rn your entire wo
pte
e need to
r living room. The floor-to-ceiling windows showed th
grunted, his thumb still scrolling. "Aza, n
ould wait. My feelings, our problems, our
us, Caleb.
not hurt. "Done with what? Being emotional? We talke
was familiar. It had bee
istant answering your phone at two in the morning. I
perfectly styled hair. "Kimberly is
steady, but my hands were shaking
for a second. He kne
ng to help me unde
as inserting herself into our life, a
e defensive. "And here
ted," I shot back.
"Go cool off. You'
I once loved who now felt li
e bedroom to pack, the front
smiling brightly. "Caleb, I got your favorite Thai foo
e was wearing a dress that was a little to
en he saw her. "Kim, tha
from her, his hand brushing aga
htening. "Azalea, are you okay? You
formance of a concerned friend.
p it. What is wrong with you? Kimberly
ding her. Ag
e flat. "I'm not apol
r the door. I didn't need to p
t. "Don't make a scene. The investors are having
was always abo
of me,
h gritted teeth. "Not until you calm
oftly, placing a hand on his arm. "She's just hur
e poison. She was positioning herself as the cal
ting into gratitude. "See, Azalea?
ct, the constant gaslighting, the slow erosion of
balled into a fist. "You're right, C
I never thought I would
oed in the si
, shock turning to fury in his eyes. Kimb
e of ice. "And I hope you and your 'mat
ut the door, not looking back. I didn't slam