ra's

t when I left Alex

k-stained wine glasses, or when

ing to burst, I hated that I still loved him, hated that some traitorous part of me still clung to the fantasy we h

barely noticed it, she crouched beside

id. "This can't end with you craw

nce.

ted you, El. They stole everythi

slowly. "With

rk. "With your silence, y

ked. "

scene. Don't give them that satisfaction, pull back, be still. Let them stew in

. "You've thoug

fantasized

me, like a hairline fracture finally splitting a

I ghosted him,

ts turned from

we need

don't shu

e a mi

regret telling

ne

oo, one message

ean for thi

nderstand th

im. Maybe you n

stolen the man I loved out from under me. The audacity wo

met jasai

priced gowns, clinking champagne flutes, and strategically sharpened smiles. Naomi prac

ance," she said. "Ho

have heads turn when I entered. To see Alexander across the r

Serena, clinging to

turned away from them,

er, Alexander'

walked away from the family business an

and intimidating in a way Alexander never was. There was something dangerous in the

ef moment, he

ur eyes met, heart t

I felt his pres

trance, huh"

to him. "

wander, they held mine, like he was reading something beneath th

ked. "

he said, exten

who yo

mused. "And you are th

reath. "More like th

, lowering his voice. "Th

row. "What w

drink. "Thinking yo

ckled like live

telling me th

don't believe in letting snakes win. And from what

d respond, Se

me talking to jasail. H

aid sweetly. "W

es sharpene

urred. "I didn't realiz

were stirring up trouble and thought I'd come see the

arly embarrassed,

shing past her shoulder just enough t

air, the city lights stretching endlessly b

jasai

d that well

ways undere

me then, like

t I expected,"

id you expe

aker. Someone who'd break.

anding," I said.

"Good. Because I

"What kind

ed in, voice low and

etween us

my heart pounding

"I want to marr

egica

because I think we could give each other some

nsane," I

ge. I want balance restored, and they both

I shook my head. "We

, trust me, Eliara. You'll neve

then, placing a

ready," he sa

your re

o the night, leaving me breathless,

elt the pieces shifting, the gam

me....I had