ph

ng seems

he wrong bride?" My voice trembled with

Do you think anything involving me happens without my own knowledge? How do you suppose I became the second-r

ink of a wiser word. "If you knew, t

waved a dismissive hand. "I needed a bride as fast as possible

How could he be so calm about ma

ce cracked up already, my inner anger boiling. "Do you even hear yourself talk? Is that a

pity for the lost. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his voice like

ind her body. They think she was swept away by the water." My vo

f what you claimed. But clearly, you don't know your sister as well as you think you do." A pause. A quick rethink. Then, with a

this then? Why did you marry me?!" I

s presence towering, suffocating. Without another wo

nto my palms as I whispered to myself, "But what did he mea

I uncovered the truth. And I would uncover everything, starting with Sara's disappearance and

ne, a lot of tea

**

rely recognized. The elegant Gucci polka-dot dress hugged my curv

n replaced by designer dresses, luxury handbags, and high-end jewelry. My old, battered car? Gone. No

but none of it mattered. Not

ice door and nearly

a heart attack." My hand flew to my

pockets, scanning me from head to

st I almost didn't cat

t due to his own expressi

arried." His face was almost twisted. "To

owed. "

ch for me but held himself back. My heart clenched at the unspoken emo

with this man. For years, he

tone. "If this is for the mission, don't you think it's g

l people, Sophia. They weren't happy about that. Threats came and went passing by. Some were empty. Oth

twisted. "W

knows you were the undercover journal

my veins as I pro

wanted to warn you, but then I heard abou

buzzed. I barely glanced at the

ink you can walk free after what you did?

as I finished r

r to my standing self.

xt followe

a to your new auto

ped my entire

tillness. A deafening roar from outside the parking lot

nferno erupted outside. I hit the floor hard beneath his solid we

reath came in shor

y had blown

f up, gripping my shou

the hammering of my heart.

creen, and my hea

cc