LOGINThat night, long after the last of the guests had left for their rooms, Andrew and I returned to the presidential suite to find that the staff had decorated it in preparation for our stay. All the décor, right down to the bed sheets, had been switched out for matching red and gold pieces. The light
Andrew’s eyes met mine as I approached the altar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He looked so handsome in his classic black tuxedo that I could hardly wait for after the reception to be with him. As I took my place across from Andrew, I handed my bouquet to Lily. The priestess bega
One month later, I stood in a suite at a private beachside resort, admiring my wedding dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places while still gently brushing against the ground like a low-hanging cloud. Crystals glistened in the room’s fluorescent lights, and the train flowed behind me effor
“Let’s continue this in the bedroom,” I said, breathless. Andrew nodded his agreement. I pulled Andrew to his feet as he stuck the ring box back in his pocket. Then I dragged him back to the bedroom, leading him by the tie. Not that he needed to be dragged; he would have followed me anywhere by th
Andrew texted me and said his flight was delayed by a few errands he had to run, so I waited. And waited. I waited for an entire day, and even began to worry that Andrew had changed his mind. Then I heard a knock at my door. I leapt off the couch and rushed to answer it. Stopping just short of the
Noah left the next day. I took him to the airport, we exchanged a hug and a brief farewell, and then I watched him walk through the gate. That was the last time I ever saw him. With a heavy heart, I returned to an empty apartment. All our furniture and my belongings—what little I still had—were the
I did not sleep that night. I tossed and turned, thinking about my fight with Andrew. What he had said was unfair, but I understood that he was under a lot of pressure and probably didn’t mean any of it. By the morning, I was miserable. I hadn’t completely forgiven Andrew for what he had said, but
As the video made the social media circuit, our approval ratings soared. Andrew was once again the favorite to win the Alpha King election. People even seemed to forget about my criminal record, something that diehard Bob supporters were quick to point out. Has everyone forgotten that Crystal went
Andrew arranged for a press conference a few days later. Like before, we presented a united front by standing side-by-side in matching clothing. Unlike before, I was not the one seeking support through our interlocked arms. Andrew put up a great front for the crowd. He smiled, waved, and appeared c
“Human terrorist attacks?” I managed to say. Andrew nodded. “I…but…how did the rumors get it so wrong?” “The best that I can figure, one of my political opponents started those rumors to try and affect my poll numbers when I first ran for Alpha King. It didn’t work, but my reputation has not exac







