ra's

d outside Alexander's penthouse, my fingers trembling as they hovered above the keypad. Seven years. Seven years

um. I pressed the code. The door unlocked with a s

cold perfection of a man who prized appearances above all. My gaze swept the space,

here

ffee table. They sparkled in the morning light, delicate a

apper peeking out from the pocket

er slid dow

in. The apartment reeked of his cologne, layered w

glasses sat abandoned

a leather chair, my kne

orking late, when he said he was tired, whe

art hammering, just as Alexander stepped into the apartment, his

me, the smile dying o

my pain like armor. "You

way, slipping his phone

y to return your fiancée's calls? Too busy t

ed. "You don't

le and picked up the earrings, dangling them be

id no

Alexander! Lie to me again! Tell me I'm i

e with that infuriating calm, like

overre

that bastard didn't just say am overrea

oftening in a way that made my stom

is it?" I

, almost tender.

nothing not her me, like I meant no

ptive sister. The girl who reappeared after years of being gone,

a hand over his jaw. "

w what this is? She's your shiny new toy. She's the biological daughter, th

ara.

gave you everything, my time, my heart, my soul b

s exhausting him. "Y

the fin

r with, and felt nothing but disgust. The mask had final

ve her?" I

esit

I don't

hed between us

aid, barely ab

This is my ap

I'll l

, my chest burnin

aid quietly. "We'll talk

door, turning b

Alexander. You didn't just cheat on

he door slamming behind me with a

engine running, brows furrowed with worry. I s

at my face and s

g my lip to kee

pping the steering wheel, "I

ndow, letting the c

?" she as

e but no

without a s

the uncomfortable kind. The kind that

spered eventuall

are drawn to chaos. And

what I had. Even

y you," Naomi said.

d. "She has him, she has m

d at me. "She only

. I didn't hav

ember flicke

ot revenge

, fade into the background like a disc

e one of them, and will the