LOGINI can hardly believe it. Before my friends can say anything else, I squeal and throw my arms around them both, jumping up and down. Liam and Brian and the twins are the one major thing I’ve missed dearly since leaving Bo’Arrocan, and to find that they’re finally considering living in Ordan full time
“On schedule, believe it or not,” I reply. “The Bo’Arrocan branch is finally running smoothly, and the Ordan location just graduated its first class of seniors. Six of them got full scholarships to prestigious art schools.”“That’s amazing, Iris.” Alice squeezes my arm. “You’ve created something tru
IrisFive Years Later…“Fifty years of marriage, and they still make each other laugh like that,” Arthur says, appearing at my side with two glasses of champagne. He hands me one and clinks his against it, and we watch as my parents twirl on the lawn, my mom throwing her head back at something my fa
“Gee. Thanks,” I manage to laugh weakly. “I’ll see you all next week.”“You most certainly will not,” Arthur, Hunter, and Alice all say in unison, making me roll my eyes.Outside, Arthur’s car is waiting, parked haphazardly half on the curb. He must have driven like a maniac to get here so quickly f
IrisEight months later…“And that’s why the colors on this side of the color wheel are considered ‘cool’ colors,” I explain to the class of children sitting in a semicircle around me. “They remind us of water, ice, and the sky.”I’m demonstrating on a large color wheel chart when a sharp pain rips
And through it all, Augustine’s breathing grows slower, shallower.Then, quietly and calmly, she goes.Her hand turns limp in mine. The steady beeping of the heart monitor flatlines. The doctor steps forward, checks for a pulse, then shakes her head.“Time of death, 10:47 AM,” she says quietly.I br
Five hundred thousand Ordan dollars. Per year.And for what? To keep me under his thumb? To ensure that Miles feels obligated to him, so that he can groom him into being the Alpha heir he always wanted?Even if I accepted that absurd offer, which I would never, it likely wouldn’t change the fact tha
Arthur & IrisArthurI watch Iris storm out of the office, her yellow cardigan fluttering behind her like a shaft of sunlight. In a flash, she’s gone, leaving behind nothing but a single chestnut hair and a trace of the scent of oil paints. The frosted glass door slams shut behind her.For several l
I can’t hold back my indignant snort as I fold my arms across my chest. “You don’t say.”Arthur doesn’t react to my quip, although I can see his eyes flash with annoyance. “I want to perform an official paternity test to determine for certain that Miles is my son,” he goes on. “If it is determined t
IrisArthur’s office is the last place I’d like to be this morning. I’d much rather be spending my morning with Miles, or perhaps working on the new painting that came to mind late last night—an abstraction of waffles and strawberries bleeding thick, red blood.But instead, I’m here, walking through







