ire

the glow of the city lights painting abstract patterns on the pristine white. Sleep was a luxury my tormen

r estate, Mrs. Albright, entered. "Miss Madden," she said, her voice clipped and formal. "Mr

ter named Alessandra Guerra. I nodded, dismissing her with a wave of my hand. S

sandra, her head nestled against his shoulder. They were at some upscale restaurant, candlelight glinting off their wine glasses. Below the picture, a caption: "

ny "urgent family matter." The lie, so casual, so effortless, twisted the knife

ess into the maps app. It was the address of the restaurant. I rose from the bed, ignori

con of soft lights and hushed laughter. I paid the driver and walked towards the entrance, my heart beati

de, with Miss Guerra." His tone was deferent

t and the murmur of voices escaping. Cade's voice. My blood ran cold. "Blaire Madden? She' s a pathetic, clinging artist," he

voice purred. "We all know you've always had an eye for quality. And Blaire...

y thought she could compete, didn't she? After everything you'v

My heart pounded, but it was a drum of fury, no

convenient distraction, a placeholder until I could secure what was rightfully mine. But

e future. She brings status, power, real connections. Blaire brought... wate

cover his extravagant medical bills, the way I painted commission after commission, sacrificing my own artistic

ade. She leaned in, her lips almost touching his ear. "And you know, darling," she whispered, her voice laced with venomous triumph, "w

s of orchestrated torture, with Cade as her silent, willing accomplice. The

good at making her doubt herself." Her gaze shifted, her eyes locking onto mine through the narrow gap in the door. A slow, chilling smile

ance. He stumbled slightly, pushing past her with a drunken laugh. "Get out, Blaire! G

And I had loved him. But no more. My hand shot out, grabbing a half-empty wine bottle from a nearby table. With a scream that tore from my gut, I swung it, not

ough the stunned silence of the room. "Fine! But prepare yourse

eplaced by a flicker of genuine fear. I gave her a slow, pred

into the cold, unforgiving night. The deceit, the betrayal, the lies-they we