ming from the flickering candle on the coffee table. The shado

t earlier. Liam had called fourteen times. Sienna had texted. Both had left

done l

ate movements. Her body still ached from exhaustion, her abdomen sore from the pain she had suffered

ould betray her and

would cry, brea

ea who they we

e on her tongue as she leaned back into the couch. Her mind

he wasn't going to waste another second mou

ing to des

her notebook, flipp

te two names in bol

M C

NA H

her dark eyes narrowed. If she was g

dentify The

rted wi

Carter Enterprises, the man with the perfect life and perfect girlfriend. The media adored him. In

legal. He had laughed about it over dinner, brushing off the gray areas in his contracts

could take that away from him, if she could make him fee

irked.

moved on

tions. She needed to be adored, to be admired. If Ariana

ndling high-profile clients. If even a whiff of s

Things she had trusted her with. Sienna had weaponized Ariana's

y, staring at the tw

outburst. She wasn't going t

o

, so slowly that by the time they realized wha

inst the page before w

ake Them Watc

the notebook,

aken so mu

o take everyt

interrupted

mo

he phone, debating

ccept the call, pressin

, M

it's late.

r eyes. No. No,

ears perfecting the

e said softly.

s voice softened. "Ari, I know you. You

Her mother alway

had been a force of nature in the business world, a woman who had built an e

, gentle in a way that softened the sharp edges of hi

d

ike she had fa

around the phone. "

le

voice came, clipped

oat tightene

n the sound of something be

snake," her m

hless, bitter laugh. "

corrected. "She smiled too much. A woman who

mp in her throat. "I sh

other said simply. "Lov

, her hand gripping th

to be a fool

she heard pride in

said. "Then mak

her chest tigh

st time in hour

her mind already spin

me had

nd the weakest crack in his perfect image and pry

ould deal w

n it wa

e the last