deemed unworthy of profit. He once said her business was

kept monkeys, she was sure the

he years, they had only fueled

hip of the struggling fashion house entirely to herself. She was determine

tential to challenge his pride itself. She longed to see the look on his face when

ntum-thread prototype pinged from the Berlin lab. They say i

ar one, and finally, my husband will under

ebrow. "Ma'am, are

ts own small amusement. "I'm emotionally down, but my work

ate room for three

o send a message to Wesley about the location of t

ame up. Urgent busi

ure. I u

were watching in the boardroom. She forced a smile and calmly in

enchanted slimming salads could cost more than small cars and th

resso and let the wa

at her reflection in the spoon. Always g

be illegal. Want me to drain someone dry?" A

pened? I know a new curse that could dr

re and a Witch was the talk in the town. Carlita was well-kno

aughter now preferred Delilah-but a familia

she whispered behind h

t look, you always loo

patio, at a corner table, surroun

illa. And

ing.

up at her as if she'd hung the moon. And Wesley-her cold, ruthless husband-was lo

ce a low hiss, "So, he c

, twisting the knife. "He

a crystal flute. Delilah whispered something in Wesley's ear, and he smil

Ri

r side of the terrace lik

d. "I will throw this nine-h

na only

ftly, sh

that made both her fr

ay, skip their lunch, and show up here-with their daughter and hi

truly despise me," Rian

ing into her bag. "I brought my petty pouch. It has cu

espresso in one bitter sip. "Let

ked. "Are

aid calmly. "

had foolishly dreamed of being part of such a scene with Wesley and Willa, but reality had proven it w

a," she said,

y, watching her friend like one might wa

re important decisio

*

ha shrieked excitedly. The girls had retreated to the privac

inded, rubbing her ear. "I know you're t

you! Certainly not after you turne

flashed in her mind. She thought she had moved on. "The past is the past. I've

Sasha, who was buzzing with excitement at her friend's impend

knew she had stayed not only out of duty and love for her

eyes and forced a smile, th

ering her head. "My only regret is that I do

s would fight me, and Willa." Her voice broke. "I'

"Carlita was already reaching for her phone, but R

as her mother." At this, the tears finally fe

a held her shoulders tightly. "I wou

ack. "Willa is too young to understand her t

friends' arms, releasing

lk properly, but it seemed they had enjoyed their day out without her-excluding her,

ge she'd brought yesterday remained unopened; more than half was gifts for Willa. It seemed he

ntered Wesley's home office. Sh

books she was sure he'd never read, and-the thing she hated most-a large oil painting of Wesley himself, d

e documents. He was a cre

ft side. In an

the divorce papers. The document was pristin

leanly on the bottom righ

aiting to be signed i

en hovering as she thought of Willa. The pain

e sighed. "Maybe one da

ved back to

ttered angrily, signing her name

smiling faintly at the thought of Wesley's

y when he returns." If he ever return

ed at th

ack one

ention every time, leaving her feeling silent and alone. He

Hear

ad bigger

"To Mystic Falls, Jerry. And you're fired-as Wesley's

be an honor." He bowed sligh

way, and Riana d