nna

a dark serpent winding its way through the elite districts, past sprawling mansions and manicured hedges. My driver, a

rs." It was the private, heavily guarded estate of his family's closest allies, a place reserved for their inner circle. A pl

s. "He's gone in, ma'am," he murmured, his eyes on the

The small, secluded guesthouse hidden behind the main residence, a little indulgen

d Mark, my voice f

nizing me, nodded respectfully and opened the small pedestrian gate. "Good evening, Ms. Cross. Congressman Rios i

of night-blooming jasmine, cloying and sweet. I moved silently, my soft shoes barely disturbing the gravel pa

clear view of the guesthouse. The lights were on inside, casting

ll

. She threw herself into Graham's arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as he caught her, spinn

her voice thick with adoration. "But... why Corinna's name first? You should've put mine!" Sh

esides," he murmured, his lips pressing a kiss to her temple, "that was just a warm-up. You know your

birthday in a grand way. He' d gifted me a simple, elegant necklace, saying, "True love doesn't need grand gestures, Co

ou know what I really want, don't you? I want her gone, Graham. I w

unger as he looked at her. "Patience, little one. All in go

ng she had. He was talking about my life. My position. My

l of it. He wasn' t handling family business. He was building a new family. With my sister. While I sat alone,

ut a small, delicately wrapped box. "I brought you a gift, darling. To celebrate our future. You h

er in his arms. She giggled, a sound that grated on my raw nerves. "My

Graham." And then, a wet, smacking sound, followed by her breathy moan. The door clicked shut, plunging the guesthouse into a more intimate, suggest

my lungs. My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground behind the hedges, the rough leaves digging into my skin. Te

me I was his anchor, his rock, his everything. All lies. Deceit. A grand perform

even began, was a shattered illusion. The dream of a family,

tears. Not for him. Not for them. My father's voice, quiet and firm, echoed in

ss a cold reminder of my pain. Three days. That' s all I ha

eady, my face emotionless. "Take me home,

ping into that room, our room, where he would eventually return from her arms, made my stomach clench. I foun

is footsteps, heavy and impatient, echoing through the silent house. "Corinna? My l

ling out again, his voice rising in irri

r, Ms. Cross's car... it's not in t

tions of the house. "Find her! Now! Search every i

ng closer. My heart pounded, but I forced my breathing

ked disheveled, his suit jacket askew, his hair mussed. He saw me lying in

in two strides, pulling me into a crushing embrace. "Corinna! Oh, thank God! I thought... I thought y

ght and dismissive. "Graham, darling

lingering fear. "You weren't in our room. Your car was gone

emotions of the day, you know. I took a sleeping pill an

ed me half to death." He kissed my forehead, then pulled me close again, holding me tight

en, my connections, my family name, the facade I presented to th

whispered, my voice

h, a cruel irony. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, my heart a stone. He thought he had me. He thought he was safe. He