“She wants to meet you,” Julius said. “In person. Face to face.”“No,” Ryder replied.“I told her that. She smiled.” Julius paused before continuing. “You know I’m not someone who scares easily. I’ve watched that woman charm half a room and destroy the other half without changing her expression. But when she smiled, Ryder, I felt something was wrong.”“Felt what?” Ryder asked.“That she wasn’t asking.”Victoria pressed herself flat against the wall. Her heels were still in her hand, and she was very aware of how ridiculous this was, standing in a corridor in her socked feet while listening through a wall like she was in one of Julie’s novels. She was also aware that she wasn’t moving, because the moment she had heard Serena’s name, curiosity had taken over.“Serena has always been theatrical,” Ryder said. “Everything she does is designed to create a specific reaction.”“I know that. I’ve known it since university.” Julius sounded quieter now, and the easy humor Victoria had com
Last Updated : 2026-08-22 Read more