na T

ss in the world." The sarcasm practically drips from my tongue. "

chen, landing on the trays moving in and out

I assume that's not you. Long story short, I can't

e or not. But the irony of being the one perso

e nearest restaurant, because seaf

he takes a threate

you find her an option, you idiot," she seethes, her voice a

in her

I doubt anyone cares whether the woman on his arm eats seafood or not. Do yo

olerate me. Because I was Shane's wife, she had to show me respect, whether she liked it or

ven wait to recover. I slap her back, and the c

ling over my shoulders. Her own perfectly coiffe

us red, and I have no do

o regret this," she threatens

, but you should know by now that it doesn't work on me. I do my job, and I do it well. If you don't eat seafood, that's your problem. Yo

te her, but she

a collective gasp from the sta

has the audacity to slap herself one more time. When she sees me wat

's trying

s me off guard, it doesn't surprise me. She has al

hane, after all? A perfect

he deliberately hurts herself-even tearing at the fabric of her dress

erly bewildered. A few of the

onfrontation, but I'm also certain th

forced, calm irony. I clap my hands twice, sharp and loud, getting everyone's atte

is far from over. I walk to the prep table, checking

's house security storms into the kitchen, with a sobbing Abigail

s ever, his hair as black as a crow's wing, gleaming and perfectly styled. T

his eyes widen in shock. But the moment is fleeting.

me!" she shrieks, the sound so

owed, his jaw tight. He doesn't react to Abigai

n after so long feels like

m me when I was at my most vulnerable. Because he che

ding. Nothing else exists but his

ut the doors open again. This time,

he demands, his usual

me!" Abigail screams, finally breaking

guest. I know what this scene could cost me, regardless of whethe

sks, his voice hard, but not

gathering facts, not jumping t

wrinkling her nose at me. "This employee is a jealous, spite

ined this incredible Prada. It's a

I can't

he's offering for me to join him in Boston is temp

comes out worse. I have witnesses. I hav

ing? She's shameless." Abigail's voice grates on me

everything I had. The man who now looks at me as if the

harp tone drawing everyone's attention, especially min

ering and lift my chin,

can explain what happened. After all, even I

il lu

wings, her hand co

wisting her arm behind her b

shri

sa sh

s, his mou

us. I can't tell if it's to pu

speak, my voice steady despite t

respect, and then I watched her hurt herself to frame me. Does she really t

, shoving her back toward

est, her sobs devolving int

ing that Milo teach me a les

shouts, glaring at me with a look of pure hatred and satisfacti

orders, pulling away from his

fend her?" Marissa's

ncern, Marissa. I t

He places his hands on my sides, gent

the surprise of his concern. His face is level with min

ghs in

ton finds out something hap

mile. Aston, always meddling, always looki

but I'm cut off before a

Shane's voice

first time in so long is

ooks like it's carved from granite. And his eyes, normally a

murmurs, turning to face

s gaze remains

rse I k

e tone if I didn't want him as

ys been a thor

always suspected me of doing with Aston the very thing