alking without a destination. The city's neon lights were

a bottle of water. At the register, the

eanor had sent her-she had spent an hour squinting at the grainy, pixelated screen of h

hot her looks of impatience and disdain. The

ack, murmured an apology to

st have flagged every account associated with the family name, anti

a few coins, leftover change from th

und the entrance to a subway station and sat on

lost in their own world. No one noticed

e felt truly, utterly

r the initial wave of panic and helpless

ee

igh-society family. She no longer had to answer to anyone. She was just hers

st hysterical sense of relief.

er a wary look, thinking she

tay here. She needed a

4-hour fast-food joi

cheapest black coffee at a diner,

r suitcase by her feet, and wrapped

nd cleaning chemicals. It was a world away from her

ne knew her past. She could

. Her original plan had relied on her mother's trust fund f

, immediately. One that provide

or the Elysian Club. A

it was-a reply from the Elysian Club sent hours ago, inviting her for an interview at 8

had turned the city upside down, but Eloi

ieces of the divorce agreement on the floor, and felt a p

d bring her back to him, begging. He was

n the diner table. The next

and looked at her reflection. Her face was pale, with dark

itcase, and walked out of the diner. She was

her onl

d plunge her into a world far more