My mind set on going to prison, I finally started to fall asleep early in the morning. Sunlight drifted in through a nearby window, draping across my face. Although I squinted from the glare, I felt content in the warmth. “Crystal Blanchard,” the female officer called as she approached the cell. I
Monday morning, I awoke to an urgent text from Lily. Video call me. Immediately. I got out of bed and brushed my hair as quickly as possible but did not dress myself otherwise. I knew that Lily wouldn’t care how I looked, considering how early it was. Besides, whatever this was…I just wanted to ge
Andrew returned his attention to me. “I don’t think you’ve ever been to my office before.” His brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?” I shook my head, slightly amused. “Always straight to the point, aren’t you?” I sighed and put my face in my hands.
Andrew called Lily and informed her that I would be consulting on the wedding as Andrew’s personal wedding planner, regardless of the fact that I was temporarily not associated with Ever After Weddings. She seemed both furious that I had gone above her head and impressed that I had found a way to do
Even with Jeffrey on my right side and Mr. Chevalier on my left, I felt oddly exposed in the prosecutor’s enormous office without Andrew. I couldn’t expect him to be there with me 24/7—he did have duties to tend to, after all—but I could really use his support at this moment. This meeting could set
The next morning, Mr. Chevalier called Lily and informed her that the case was being dropped. Lily gladly offered me my job back and asked me to start working again immediately. It warmed my heart to know that she needed me so badly. The day after that, I was getting dressed for work, adding a belt
After three days of being avoided and ignored by my colleagues, I could stand the isolation no more. I called Mr. Chevalier to ask him if I could share the recording of Miranda to prove that I had not murdered anyone. He advised against it, saying that it was confidential evidence, but I didn’t know
“Yes, your track record. Miranda is clean, and you…well, you have a criminal record for manslaughter. What am I supposed to think?” She lifted her chin at me, daring me to defy her claim. In my frustration and desperation, I almost told her the truth. I almost told her that it was Bob who killed t
That night, long after the last of the guests had left for their rooms, Andrew and I returned to the presidential suite to find that the staff had decorated it in preparation for our stay. All the décor, right down to the bed sheets, had been switched out for matching red and gold pieces. The light
Andrew’s eyes met mine as I approached the altar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He looked so handsome in his classic black tuxedo that I could hardly wait for after the reception to be with him. As I took my place across from Andrew, I handed my bouquet to Lily. The priestess bega
One month later, I stood in a suite at a private beachside resort, admiring my wedding dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places while still gently brushing against the ground like a low-hanging cloud. Crystals glistened in the room’s fluorescent lights, and the train flowed behind me effor
“Let’s continue this in the bedroom,” I said, breathless. Andrew nodded his agreement. I pulled Andrew to his feet as he stuck the ring box back in his pocket. Then I dragged him back to the bedroom, leading him by the tie. Not that he needed to be dragged; he would have followed me anywhere by th
Andrew texted me and said his flight was delayed by a few errands he had to run, so I waited. And waited. I waited for an entire day, and even began to worry that Andrew had changed his mind. Then I heard a knock at my door. I leapt off the couch and rushed to answer it. Stopping just short of the
Noah left the next day. I took him to the airport, we exchanged a hug and a brief farewell, and then I watched him walk through the gate. That was the last time I ever saw him. With a heavy heart, I returned to an empty apartment. All our furniture and my belongings—what little I still had—were the
Sensing the urgency in Noah’s voice, I leaned in closer. “What is it?” I asked, trying to suppress the anticipation in my voice. Noah’s grip on my hands tightened. “I’m going to study financial law in the human world.” I froze. My heart thumped hard against my ribs, so hard that I thought th
The nightmares did not stop. In fact, they got worse. By the end of that week, I was having at least one every night, and it was showing in behavior during the day. I could scarcely stay awake. At my new branch of Ever After Weddings, I had to sneak off into the breakroom whenever there were no cu
I dreamt of the Lunar Festival. Noah and I walked hand-in-hand through the stalls, enjoying the sparkling lights and the company of our new pack mates. Yet something was off. I could feel a chill in the air, a foreboding that I could not quite shake off. “We should get out of here,” I said, tryi