a Yor

churned, a knot of old emotions twisting tighter with each beat of my heart. Breanna' s words, sharp and t

is might not be so bad." A fragile promise, a flicker of warmth that, for a moment, had made me believe in a different future. I remembered

ttle glass now, shattering unde

a chronic illness. Her episodes are real. He genuinely helps her." I tried to convince my

des,' hasn't she? Every year, like clockwork, around your anniversary, or when you two are su

r side, leaving me alone, adrift. That night, three years ago, after he left me waiting at the restaurant, I' d driven aimlessly, blinded by tears, and crashed my car. Not badly, but enough to remind me how alone I was. I still bore the faint scar on

on Breanna' s bandaged arm. "I can't just leave him in a lurch right now, Brea

ze. "Alyssa, this isn't your burden to carry. My 'accident' is my problem. And

cts me to manage this. And my family needs this merger, Breanna. My cousi

her head. "Speaking of my current situation... I need you to go to the gallery opening tonight. My rival, Marcus Thorn

ially one where Dayton might be, made my stomach clench. But Breanna needed me. She was my only tru

ow go, show them what a York woman is made of.

ive perfume and pretentious art. I plastered on my most serene smile, my eyes scanning the

the news abou

lways playing secon

he see in that frag

to a group clustered around a particularly abstract piece. And there he was. Dayton. Standing too close to a

y. "Alyssa always seemed so... stoic. You'd think after three years of separation, she'd have the g

a neutral expression on his face, offering no defense, no rebuttal. I

ss partner, a laid-back playboy with an uncanny knack for observation, stepped

oth, but with an underlying edge. "Alyssa is a brilliant architec

makes her own choices," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, a cold, almost clinical s

on of his detachment. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, sud

voice was filled wi

realize you were here." I moved towards them, my steps light, confident. "Breanna couldn't make it tonight, so I'm here representing he

of concern. "Of course. Let me show you around.

company Alyssa. Grandfather wants us to be seen together tonight an

e, but the unspoken threat of Jerald Cole hung heavy in the air. "Indeed," I said, my v

Alright then. I'll catch up with you two later." He gave m

hollow all at once. "Grandfather is hosting the annual Cole-York foundation dinner next mon

the year, a showcase of family power and influence. It was a perfect stage for

old weight on my arm. The flashes of cameras followed us, painting a picture of a devoted couple, a lie so perfectly constructed, it almost felt real.

to talk about this arrangement. After the merger is finalized, af

ou suggesting, Alyssa? Divorce? Do you have any idea the impact that would have on o

inimal impact. We can manage the narrative, just as we're doing now. But I can't keep living t

ce a mask of calculated indifference. "An

ou get your freedom. I get mine. And our families avoid a public scandal tha

one condition. We maintain this façade until the merger is complete. And you ensure your family, especially your cousin Donavon, doesn't cause any

like a surrender and a victory all at once

"Let's make sure we put on a good show then, Mrs. Cole.

he camera a painful reminder of the lie. But this time, it was different. This tim