ed to unsettle him. On the morning of her depart

sting his tie. "My driver is off today. Ride

yme simply nodded and fo

the car, a clean, woody smell that used

m him as possible, pressing her

erstorm had broken out, and she had jumped, startled. He had laughed, pulled

nce was a sto

ately," Autry said,

e her jump. It was the mos

" she replied,

ut w

pl

a frown touching hi

concerns you,

e him flinch. "Why are

ow. "It seems appropriate

he asked, his voice tight with an

was the one getting married. He was the

said, cutting off the co

. He dropped her at Darleen's curb without anot

r social media accounts, announcing a long hiatus to focus on a "new artistic passion." Her mi

a charity gala, insisting she need

her. She tried to find a quiet corner on

yme Barnes? Th

rreal dropped her fo

llarreal now. Wit

rner clinging to his arm. Cassie was wearing a pale pink dress,

plant, her heart hammering. She o

e looks just like a young

seems besotted with her. He ne

. "She's nothing like Ja

the chatter, cold and sh

ayme listened, hiding in the shadows, she felt... nothing. The pain was a distant echo, a dull throb w

p, bone-wearying exhaustion from the emotional turmoil. She wrapped herself in an old quilt her mo

the sound

d out the window and saw a moving truck parked in front of Autry's mansion across

d planted in the front yard years ago. It was the one part of the sterile, modern prop

the ground. "Get rid of all this dirt! I want a c

ry. She threw on some clothes

ng as Cassie directed the destructi

predatory, triumphant smile. She walked over, h

pping with false sweetness. "Just doing a l

arden," Jayme said, her

"Silly, this is Autry's house. And soon, it will be my

e got out and walked over, placing

the commotio

hes, darling," Cassie cooed, leaning int

then at Jayme's pale, furious face.

, his voice holding a hint of concern, but

e," she

ing on his arm. "Let's go inside. I need you

giving Jayme one last, unre

n't need his help. She didn't need his conce

t and preparing for her move. She only returned when Darleen insisted she

" Darleen had said. "Don't l

Cassie. He was a major investor in the new app. Throughout t

een negotiating for months fell through. The brand representative was apologetic. "I'm sor

lculated blow. He

nt's presentation. The app's CEO wa

en invaluable. We're also thrilled to announce our first offic

crowd, her eyes finding Jayme's with a look of pure triumph.

ying to leave, Cassie

. "This is just the beginning. Everything you had,

didn't feel anger anymore, jus

id, her voice calm and even

momentarily stunned. The battle was over. She had