lurring past the tinted windows. Inside, the air was thick w

hands folded in their laps. Dante sat across from her,

oice slicing through the qui

out the window at the passing

friend tell you to sell the necklace? Did she tell you to file for

specific, painful memory. He truly believed she was a

ena asked, her voice flat. "T

the small space. "You think I don't see the game you're playing? The poor little

rity gala. The one night she wan

s from the Met Gala, two years ago. The ballroom entrance." A moment later, his phone buzzed. He turned the screen toward her. It was a grainy shot, but unmistakable. Helena,

l in distress. Except I checked. You weren't on the catering staff that night. You we

in that she had taken the place of a friend who was sick, that she had signed

aid n

. He put the phone away, leaning back against t

fraud, Helena. From the very first second I met y

ke me for a ride? You think you can threaten me with divorce? I own you. I own the roof over your head, the food in your stomach, and the shoes on

raking over her with a

dead. It was the last thread of hope she had been clinging to, the tiny, pat

o win. He needed her to be the villain so

st time since he got in the car. He was a man driven

turned her head back to the wind

When none came, a flicker of annoyance crossed his features. He

he gave hi

lding. The driver parked in the reserved spot, and the

et. He looked at Helena, who was still si

go," he

the car. She walked past him toward the ele

ng in his gut. He had won. He had shut down her accoun

ike he had just lost