the chaos of my living room, a queen on a throne of debris

was still there, a deep, resonant ache, but it

eturned. Alaric was t

nd through his perfectly styled hair. "I lost

m and saw the

m, a triumphant smirk on his

Alexander announced, "I

They knew what they were looking for. One of them "fo

," the man said, holdi

ormance of relief and hurt. "

it around her neck. "There," he said, kis

c, Darrius, and Jefferey stayed behind, offer

u clean up," D

ll new things,"

. "Get out

, they di

presence, by the memory of my humiliation. I called my assistant and

ys in solitude, healing

ad confirmed he would be back in time for my birthday part

I went out. I needed a

on Fifth Avenue. As I was browsing the r

ol

r Alexander's twisted sense of

of midnight blue silk, simple, elegant, and impo

d for it. Our

k as if I'd

" I told the sales c

e Kidd family name, smiled obsequiously. "

ession dismissive. "I'm sorry,

She pulled out her phone and walked away, her vo

As I stepped out of the boutique, Alexander's car pulled up. He didn't use force. He

rainy but unmistakable. It was a camera, hidden in the ceili

ent. Sneaky. I wonder what the world would think if they saw the great Azalea Kidd in her

on far deeper than any physical blow, a stripp

Isolde," he said. "Looking for this?" He held it up. "You wanted to defy me. Y

. You will wear something appropriate. You will smile. And you will choose me

me on the crowded sidewalk, feeling more exposed than

he had just handed me the key to his own destruc