n Mccr

eyes before being quickly masked. He had been prepared for a tempest, for screams and tears, fo

compl

e sweeping over Kaila's feigned innocence. "Anything that brings you joy, brings me joy. After all, your love is all I have." I

ourse. My "docility" was simply proof of his absolute power over me. He believed he

"Show Kaila to the west wing suite. She'll be staying there. Make s

r voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Th

mask of a gracious, if vanquished,

than a piece of expensive furniture. I sat opposite them, mechanically lifting my fork to my mouth, the taste of the gourmet food turning to ash on my tongue. Every flirtatious giggle from Kaila, every po

e plates. "Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I'll be with you, Allyson. Tuesdays, Thurs

me, a challen

reasonable, Jackson," I

not come. In its place was a calm so absolute it was unnerving, even to him. This wasn't the Allyson he knew how

al sobs. Tonight, there was only the quiet hum of the air conditioning and the steady beat of my own cold heart. The well

shameless arrogance he did everything else, announcing to the city's elite that he, Jackson Walters, was a man

in a world that no longer concerned me. My real life was happening in secret, in encrypted emails with my lawyer, in the transfer of untraceable f

portion of his company's shares but also a family heirloom: a breathtaking emerald and diamond ne

ced that same necklace on me, on our wedding day. His voice had been a low, sincere w

d lasted f

I pressed a hand to my heart, breathing through the spasm. It was just a memory. It meant

turned to me, her eyes glittering with triumph. "

voice flat. "I'll have so

und my neck. It was a delicate, almost invisible thing, with a sma

d the locket with my h

ece of jewelry I owned that wasn't from Jacks

ing. "Oh, don't be so stingy, Ally

s brow furrowed in anno

up. "Jackson, I just asked Allyson for her necklace as a gi

on said, his tone dismissive and impat

ted, my voice

ed out, his fingers hooking under the thin chain. He ripped it from

ned and pressed the locket into Kaila's

you, Jackson! You're the best!" She gave me a final, smug lo

ng, but the wound inside was deeper. He had taken the last piece of my old life, the

e that washed over me. But beneath it, a cold,

le, my mind racing. I would not let her keep it.

he door slightly ajar. I pushed it open, prepared to offer her anything-jew

my blood run cold

oat. My blood didn't just run cold, it turned to ice. It was a viola

poodle Jackson had bought her. And around the dog's fluffy neck, gl