LOGINIt glints softly and as I run my thumb over it, it grounds me. Tethers me to the present and reminds me that I am not alone.The panic doesn’t disappear, but it eases just enough for me to breathe again. Just because they’re suing me doesn’t mean my life or my career is over. It feels catastrophic,
SIERRAI’m sitting on the couch, laptop open in front of me, pretending to read through research articles, but I can’t get my mind to focus. At this point I think I won’t be able to focus on anything until everything is cleared.The company hasn’t sent their lawyers, but I know it’s not a matter of
Just thinking about it makes bile rise in my throat.Slowly, I reach into the drawer and pull out Chloe’s diary. I need something solid. Something real. Something to anchor me.My fingers tremble slightly as I flip it open and turn the page.[We all used to hang out even though it wasn't often, but
She freezes, just for a second, before her face smooths out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I advance on her slowly. “So you’re going to play stupid?”“I really don’t know…”“Jocelyn.”I say the name and watch her closely… Then I see it. The widening of her eyes and the split-second panic
For a second, everything freezes. My hand tightens around the car door handle, my feet rooted to the ground.“Mr. Wood?” Blaze’s voice pulls me out of the paralysis.“Are you sure?” I ask.“Yes,” he replies. “I ran through security footage. They’ve been meeting at least twice a week.”I inhale slowl
“If I remember correctly,” she says coolly, “you stopped me.”“That’s because I didn’t want us to sleep together before I officially made you mine,” I reply. “And before I could do that, you told me to get out.”She scoffs. “What did you expect? You basically rejected me and even after that, I gave
“You tried to kidnap her,” I murmur. “Tried to take her, why?”My voice stays calm, too calm for the storm I feel inside.He looks at me, as if challenging me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I stop behind him and lean down close to his ear. “Lie again, and you'll regret it.”I walk to the
SIERRA.I walk away from Adrian with a smile on my face… but the moment I’m away from him, my smile slips and my heart starts pounding again.Not from fear. Not from what happened. But from the possibility that he might look back and see the car waiting for me, sleek and black and unmistakably expen
I’m still smiling by the time I leave the clinic. The sun has climbed higher and the world somehow feels different.As I walk toward the car, my smile grows until I can’t help the quiet laugh that escapes me.The driver spots me from the parking lot and hurries to open the car door. “All done, Miss
The hot chocolate arrives. She wraps her hands around the cup… or tries to, but they still shake so badly she can barely hold it steady.“Here,” I murmur, sliding closer.I cover her hands with mine just enough to hold the cup for her. Her breath hitches, and her shoulders drop a fraction.“It’s oka







