e alarm was a v

st lay there, the cheap sheets of the bed scratching against my skin. My body ached, a deep, bone-weary exhaustio

ater sluice over me, trying to wash away the feeling of Roderick

ter. A news alert. I glance

s Ava Reed, the Mystery Wom

hed onto Leo for his money and power. It quoted anonymous "friends" who described me as ambitious and manipulative. It was Leo' s work, I knew

he' d said once. The w

one onto the b

tion, sounded in the room. A transparent blue

is being publicly solidified. This may affec

from this world of ruthless billionaires and glittering galas. My world was quieter, softer. It was a small art

de after the accident, the doctors telling me there was nothing more th

omplete the mission. The energy generated b

sively in love with me, and then, at the peak of his emotional attachment, I had to shatter his heart and soul by l

ruelty made him a prime target for generating a massive amount of disillusionm

osed to be

compliant, and seemingly devoted. I suppressed my own personality, my art, my very being, to be

olonged immersion can lead to emotional transference.

er than cold possession, had a part of me responded? I thought of the time he' d found me sketching in a notebook and

. Any warmth from him was just another tool of manipulation. My feelings

but it felt like sta

be colder than Leo, more ruthless in my own way. I had to use his cruelty as a weapon, turni

A pathetic gratitude for the gilded cage Leo had built around me? The tho

iled, Ethan

t. I would not fail. I would not let this world, or Leo

thought. The public could think whatever they wanted. I knew the tru