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
“The detective seemed to think I did it,” I finish. “That I poisoned Veronica because of her relationship with Arthur.”My mother’s face is pale. “That’s absurd! You would never do such a thing.”“I know that. You know that. But the evidence points to me.” I lean forward, lowering my voice. “Is it p
Iris“Miss Willford! Iris! Wake up!”Someone is shaking me. Hard. I slowly open my eyes, blinking against the harsh lights of my studio. Everything hurts—my head is pounding, my muscles ache, and my throat feels raw, like I’ve been screaming.Emi’s concerned face hovers over me. “Goddess, you scared
IrisHow could he? After everything we’ve been through, after Miles, after all his promises… How could he choose Veronica over me? Over Miles? Over his family?“Miss Willford?” Emi’s voice breaks through the roaring in my ears. “Are you alright?”I snap back to reality, finding Emi sitting beside me
In each of them, I’m wearing the sapphire necklace. In a few taken during the beginning of the event, the necklace is fully intact, all blue stones shimmering in the light.Then comes a picture of me walking past Veronica, who’s holding her cocktail glass, in the crowd, when Arthur is leading me to







