ida

just an event; it was

ner for his extended family. I was

hogany table, an exile in my own di

ear toward her. She spun stories about her time in Pa

he floral centerpiece, he

mbling with practiced fragility. "Especially knowing

ek's mother glared at me

. "Is it true you told Derek that Else

my knuckles turned whi

oulder. "She's here now. That's what mat

ectly at me w

time, painting me as the villain

fe,* I want

ting their judgment wash over me. Silence wa

ight, I woke

tification tone.

se down the dark corridor.

pilling a sliver of yellow l

red i

shoulder, her hand resting possessively on his chest. E

studying

ice was excited, breathless. "The com

ound. "Obedience Serum. God, tha

ded fascinated, clinical. "It suppresses the trauma response. The

od ran

nted at the screen. "We could make her sign the di

d. He actua

he said. "And it would make the auctio

med to tilt

sell me. They were planning

y throat. I stumbled down the hallway to the bathro

cet and splashed co

of Derek's smiling face

s a m

e. I dialed Sarah

g once

ediately. "Aleida?

. To tell her about the ri

choked so

h's voice pitc

re. She would try to be a hero. And they would hur

ung

oor, hugging my

te ice cream. He had wiped a smudge of chocolate off my c

All

in the mirror. I

eyes we

with the force of a physical blow, yet

idn't have to mourn him.

, I became a ghos

in the guest room.

ame th

icial return to the company. A m

orning, adjusting his cufflinks wi

mple, severe. Mourning clothes fo

th the city's elite. Champ

ous. "Oh, Aleida, you look g

from the effort. "It's.

ed to surge toward me, her face furiou

movement. I gave her a look tha

confused, but

ver to the

tting there. Else was

e, wiping a drop of juice

e. Grossly, pu

chair next to t

ze. He lo

f a second, I saw something fli

Else

ying over the music. "Did you forget Ale

Derek used to buy me cupcake

her. Then he

e cold. "You shouldn't be here,

ay from me. His hand

knew he remembe

chose t

se her