looked so pret

laxy pinned to black velvet - cold and unreachable, exactly how Seraphi

er breath curled in the night air, leavin

me way it always did when bills piled up, when Maya's textbooks sat u

aid softly. "But please... don't pick

er eyes shut. T

-

he phone trembled in her hand. She wanted to throw it off the roof

- the soft click of ex

The air itself seemed to sharpen, like the city hel

ld, deep voice. A voice t

suit blended into the night, only his pale, angular face illuminated by the r

t. Her voice was hoarse, but steady. "Did you c

ile. Of cour

impossibly loud in the hush of midnight. He stopped just behind her

-

onight?" he asked, his tone smo

, they were a stormy blue-grey, like ocean ice unde

ot back. "Your fiancée was

The only crack in his marble mask.

to be the victim now. Poor Eryx Kane, tricked by a gold-diggi

raced against the railing behind her, his body caging her in. Not touching - never touching - but clo

d, each word precise, measured,

ked. "You

tory. "If I'm not engaged by the end of this quarter, the board can challenge my ownershi

eks, the stubborn tilt of her jaw. She knew he w

ured. "You destroyed ev

forced her chin up higher. "So

uckle rumbled in his

-

e flipped it open with a flick of his thumb. Inside, a ring glittered under the rooftop lig

twisting in her gut. "

ch his eyes. "You wi

re in

t, as if he already knew it didn't matter what she said. "But you se

t dry. She didn't need to look to know exactly what was inside - her life, her de

ements," he said, tone mocking, "I do

r sides. "You think you ca

breath brushed her ear. "No

-

e rooftop like a caged tiger.

of a hundred witnesses. Tell them how you broke a multimillion-dollar contract by sabotag

. So reasonable. It m

n my famil

ddenly sharp. "Actions have consequences, Miss Val

id, but better. And in return, your mother's treatments continue. Your sister's tuition is paid in full. Your debts disappear.

-

lap him. She wanted to cry - but she

s narrowing into slits. "And what do

most looked like a real smile - but it

trust to ruin me properly if I slip.

-

between them like

ling like ants, neon lights blinking out

ftop, Sera knew her world wo

ow and steady. "I'll play you

ow lifted

g my soul, I'll do it on my terms. I keep my job. I keep my friends.

es - approval, maybe. Or mayb

he sai

r finger - a cold circle of diamonds that felt like a

ons, fiancée,

-

, fear, desire, something hot and shar

he didn't dare admit existed, Sera

hell wou