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r, her fingers tightening around the handle of the insulated thermos. The metal dug into her skin, but she barely felt it. Her heart was beat
ir conditioning seeping through the fabric. She walked down the quiet c
o the blind spot along the wall. Adriene pressed herself closer to the edge, slipping past their line of sight. She wa
the brass handle. She was just about to push it open when a sliver of h
, lingering tone he used when he kissed her forehead every morning. It w
ress rele
ene held her breath. Why was Pax here in the mi
rying Elaina's name in this mess cost us a fortune. The media
harp, physical ache bloomed just below h
care what it costs. As long as Elaina's reputati
ce water poured directly over Adr
Pax asked. "How do you e
," Dallin said, his voice dripping with c
hermos snapped sharply against her palm, the sudr shook the glass, drowning out the sharp int
continued, his tone clinical. "She keeps the cameras busy
chuckled. "The whole city thinks y
d to her face, and she bit down on he
pure disgust. "Every time I have to touch Adriene, it makes me physically sic
Her legs turned to water, and she stumbled backward. Her
the conversation
x asked. Heavy footstep
kicked in. She spun around, her eyes darting frantically, and thr
hallway, his eyes scanning the empty space. A cold draft
spilled over her eyelashes, hot and fast, tracking down her cheeks. Her shoulder
inside and the
underwater. She looked down at the thermos in her trembling hands. The soup she had spent three ho
lked straight to the large metal trash can by the elevat
thud. Three years of her life, three ye
he screen lit up with a message Dallin
r lips. Her thumb hovered over th
had been shaky moments ago, grew steady. The soft, loving wa
n in the glass doors. Her mascara was smeared. She raised the back of h
ng rain. The freezing drops hit her face, soaking her hair instantly.
ge umbrella. "Mrs. Morales! Do you w
aid, her voice
at, she thought back to the avalanche in Aspen. She remembered digging Dallin o
urb. She opened the door and sl
told the driver. Her v
attan blurred in the rain. Adriene curled her hands into tight fists, her na

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