battle against the deluge. The rhythmic slap, slap, slap was the only

. The cloying scent of Ashley's perfume was seared into her m

ound, were pulling her hair. And then he was there. A teenage Derrick, all long limbs and righteous fury, appearing like a god from a storybook. He'd pla

nger knew, a woman who had brought her into the Harmon family and then abandoned her without a second thought, leaving her to be bullied. Th

rusive sound. It was a text from Cori Harmon, De

night. Don

ad never seen her as anything more than a charit

ilence and the memory of Derrick's silk robe. Right now, she craved noise. She

ack a singl

. She stripped off her wet clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor. From the back of her close

s. She looked broken. With a surge of defiant anger, she opened her makeup bag. She applied dar

he club was a chaotic sea of flashing lights, sweaty bodies, and music so

iskey, neat. The fiery liquid burned a welco

ook what the c

ual entourage, Blair Kensington and Victoria Sinclair, their expensive

al. "Isn't it the Harmon family's dirty little secret? What's the

ing the burn anchor her. She met Cori's smug ga

and put a hand to her mouth. "Be nice, Cori. She's a Stanford genius now

was thick en

ng forward conspiratorially. "Not with what I hea

a's hand tightened on her glass, her knuckles turning whit

Cori, her voice a low rasp.

t was practically the first thing he did after you left tonight. The whole Bel Air gossip mi

ga

robe, worse than his casual dismissal. It was final. It slammed the

ears. The flashing lights of the club started to blur, the edges of

ous whisper in Alaina's ear. "You didn't really think he'd ever want you, did you? Don't you remember

ars, whispered in hallways and behind cupped hands. They w

e faces around her seemed to warp and mock her, their laughter mixing with the pounding music.

her throat closed up. All she could do was glare a

e snapped, her voice rising. "Am I wrong? Why don't you tell everyone he

he attention of those nearby. Alaina was

er whole, a hand reached out and gently took

from just above her. "Whether she does

ectly tailored suit to a strong jawline and a face she knew, b

op of the club lights, a figure of

ousin. Julia