reets. A faint tension filled the air. I took a deep breath and spoke, "You must have seen P

He sighed. "We can go ahead and get the Divorce Decree, without te

of changing his mind. Even though his grandfather had scolded him to his

ing it harder to breathe. Every inhale felt like a

and hoarsely asked, "Alright, when

e's schedule. "I'm pretty busy the

t deep inside, there was a fain

der couldn't help but purse his l

ive. At times, they were gentle, and at other times sharp-when gentle, there seemed to be a magic in them that drew people i

raight nose, full lips, and when I smiled, the dimples at the

s. I was disciplined about my health, practicing yoga every week to ma

lexander kne

r resist me. When I closed my eyes, I could still feel his every delicate touch, his a

arch and Program-based scholarships, and even participated in the International Design Awards, winning a Visiting

ional as me, how could

I didn't know who w

e broke through my thoughts. "

nd I turned to glance at h

Ten years of time, from the moment I stepped into The Hawthor

fragile, full of self-doubt, sensitivity, and cowardice. Alone in a strange land,

ly brightened. His warmth was like a ray of sunlight, shining into my cold heart. F

ready belonged to someone else, and I could only silently watch from a dista

an-meant to be alone, neve

inexplicable frustration rising within him. Was he in such a h

?" Alexander suddenly asked,

he doesn't like me. He's like

He pressed his lips together, his voice low. "I

smile. "There's

plex emotion crossing his eyes b

matter what he asked, all I could do was try my b

, and I arrived early at the studio to m

o had been my long-time collaborators, and after working together for ye

s almost 9:00 AM, and half an hour had passed since the ag

had already fo

ed with the camera and sighed.

ack from overseas. If she wants to throw her weight around, we c

ambassador had been personal

&R, I had the authority to make chang

a diva, I had no choi

e, scrolled to Eliza

but after a brief

solutely ridiculous. Just because they have CEO Hawthorn

but the line wen

put my phone away. "I'm guessing they won't be here until at least

za played her games. When we first discussed the collabora

lves. She's been abroad for a few years, picked up a little fame, but no

'll go out for a meal someti

ie and Ariana said, as they bid

assistant bring me my lapt

ng me out of my thoughts. I checke

ight about

ked on the door. "Director Vivienne, Mi

it, t

, and calmly packed it into my bag

eeting at the company, and it ran longer than expected. My phone was with my assistant, and he must've hung up on you by mi

pologetic, there was no si

hing else came up, and it took lon

"It's fine. I was ju

ry, Director Vivienne. You can leave

on was more reserved. "What I mea

ssion shifted to cold annoyance. "Dir

it says," I an

you? Why didn't you notify us ea

o inform you, but I couldn't get through. And since Director Eliza hung up on me, I figured your assistant didn'

Isabella stiffe

tters to attend to. I'll be leaving now. Please

aking, grabbed my laptop,

rozen, watching me leave,

else! Who knew sh

tsmart. Think about it-after I left, the woman who managed

t do we

e of being late today. If they did it ag

er phone. "I'll

couldn't touch me. The only one who could hurt me