Chapter: CHAPTER 5The words hit Teal like a slap. She stumbled back but caught herself. Face pale. She didn't react. She blinked hard replaying the words in her head. She was Dacio's fiancee. She had to be strong. For herself. For Tamsin.She straightened up, masked the sadness, and walked back inside.Tamsin was still at the table, scrolling, cereal in spoon.Teal sat across from her. "Baby aren't you going to hurry up? Hugo's leaving."Tamsin shrugged. "That jerk can't leave without me.""VROOM!"Tires screeched. The gate was closing.Tamsin's head snapped up. "What the---"She dropped her spoon, grabbed her bag, kissed Teal. "Mom I'm off. Love you."She bolted outside but the gates were already closing. Hugo's car tore out, not slowing. Not stopping.Tamsin stopped dead. Face twisted. "THAT JERK REALLY LEFT ME BEHIND!"She stomped. Once, twice."Ugh I hate him. I hate him so much!"Her voice cracked. From humiliation.She checked her phone. No nearby taxi.She wanted to scream. Instead she fixed h
Last Updated: 2026-08-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 4The living room was quiet since Tamsin went upstairs. Dacio stepped back in after his "important business call." Teal sat stiffly on the couch with a wine glass, staring at nothing.Dacio paused at the doorway watching her. Then he sat on the opposite couch, keeping a careful distance.Dacio: "Teal....can i ask you something?"Teal looked up with tired eyes. "Yeah. Anything wrong?"He leaned forward, voice careful. "Can you tell me....what happened to Alaric?"The name hit like a slap. Her grip on the glass tightened.Teal: "What about him? Why do you want to know?"Dacio: "Teal please. I'm not trying to hurt you. I want you to let me in so we can deal with this grief together."Silence. She looked down at her wine. Debating. Finally her voice went lower.Teal: "Everyone in NYC knew Alaric. A good father to Tamsin. A good husband to me." she sniffled. "He always came home for dinner. Me, him, and Tammy. Every night. That was our thing."She took a shaky breath."But that night...he di
Last Updated: 2026-08-27
Chapter: CHAPTER 3The house was too quiet after the doors slammed.The kind that sits on your chest and makes you feel like if you breathed too loud, the whole Mansion would hear it.Downstairs the air smelled like expensive perfume and money and Dacio's cologne.Teal walked around with a glass of red wine, trying to feel at home. Her heels clicked on marble colder than their New York floors.Dacio had gone to his study. "Important client call." But upstairs?Two storms were brewing. ★The video call connected and Tamsin's face popped up. She was lying in bed surrounded by "PINK." Pink bedframe. Pink sheets. Pink walls. Pink reading table and lamp. Pink curtains.Amy: "What the heck! Tammy, where are you?"Judith: "Is that your room in Madrid? Gosh I'm genuinely creeped out."Tamsin groaned, falling back on the bed. "Yes welcome to my nightmare. The Salamanca Mansion.Judith: "I thought the Mansion would be elegant? Isn't Dacio Bruno like rich?"Tamsin: "The Mansion migh
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
Chapter: CHAPTER 2JFK was a blur of private lounge and champagne that Tamsin didn't drink.Teal slept for most of the 7-hour flight. Or pretended to. Tamsin stared at the map as their plane crossed the ocean.New York. 3,582 miles away.She thought about Trinity high. About Jordan and his "I'm sorry" that stopped coming. About Judith's silence that hurt more than any fight. She thought about her dad.The landing was rough. Tamsin's stomach flipped. ★The seatbelt sign dinged off. People clapped and hugged. Strangers turned into family in seconds.Tamsin didn't.She stared at the screen. Arrival: Madrid.The word looked too final. 3,582 miles from everything she knew.Her chest felt empty, like someone had left it in the overhead bin. Teal squeezed her hand. "We're here, baby. Madrid sure is beautiful. I think we'll love it here." Her smile was too bright. Like she was trying to convince herself this wasn't good bye to their old life.Tamsin nodded and followed her off the pl
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
Chapter: CHAPTER 1The tape made a sound like a sigh every time Tamsin pulled it.Eighteen boxes. All of them labeled in her neat angry handwriting. TAMSIN-BOOKS. TAMSIN-CLOTHES.TAMSIN- DO NOT TOUCH.The last one sat in the middle of her bedroom floor.She could still remember the conversation she had with Jordan six weeks ago.……………………………………… SIX WEEKS AGO Trinity High………………………………………“So it's true,” Jordan said angrily.“Yeah.” she replied sadly. “It's already been decided, Jordan.“Seriously, Madrid? I overheard from Judith.”“Why would Judith tell you when I specifically told her not to?”“Were you planning on not telling me? If Judith hadn't told me, then I would have been left in the dark.” His said, voice angry.“No. I wanted to tell you but me and Mom argued when I told her I wanted to stay behind.” “So you're just going to go now?” “Yeah, she said quietly. “We're moving in six weeks.”“Seriously? Two months before prom.” He murmured.“I know and I'm sorry. I didn't cho
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
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