SHADOWED HEARTS

n the grand dining room, sipping her black coffee while glancing at the screen of her phone. She wore a crisp, tailored suit-jet black, with a dark burgundy

a had no family left, at least not in the traditional sense. Her "family" was the empire she had built-the

eiress," a wealthy socialite with a taste for exclusivity and isolation. If only they knew. Beneath the p

t-hand man. He stood in the doorway, impeccably dressed, though his deme

th deliberate calm. "Good. An

ring trouble, but nothing signi

t detached. "Let them test their limits.

ing table, her mind already calculating her next move. This was her life: strategy, co

ing was missing. Not that she had time to dwell on such t

quaint district on the edge of the city. She rarely ventured out alone, but today was d

and an antique shop. The bell above the door chimed softly as she entered

's cover. She looked up, startled by Alexandra's presence. Her shy, doe-like bro

auburn hair framed her face in soft waves, and a faint

e like the first notes of a melody

diating from her. She had encountered countless people in

missive. She turned away, pretending to examine the shelves,

woman said, her voice

wasn't really looking at. She could hear the faint rustle of paper as the woman went b

ing, but the woman's face stayed with h

girl in the bookstore-Rose Sherlock-was about to