“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
“Crystal, we need to talk.” Those were not the first words that I wanted to hear when I sat down at the mansion’s dining table that night. I swallowed against the knot that had developed in my throat. “About what?” I asked. Andrew grabbed my hands in both of his. The butterflies in my stomach climbe
“Emily Chang,The New York Times,” she introduced herself. “Your Highness, given Crystal Blanchard’s recent arrest under suspicion of murder, do you really think that is a wise decision for you to go public with this relationship now?” “All charges against Crystal in relation to that case have been
I saw it all over social media. Andrew Dubois’s new girlfriend is a criminal! He needs to dump her ASAP. Crystal Blanchard is a murderer! If that’s the kind of person Andrew Dubois decides to date, then we can’t trust his judgment. He needs to resign NOW. That vixen lured Andrew into a relationsh
I lay with my head resting against Andrew’s bare sweaty torso, running my fingers through his thick, dark chest hair. He stroked my golden hair soothingly with one hand and had the other placed lightly on my waist. I listened to our breathing falling into rhythm with each other, our hearts beating i
couple days later, Andrew and I stood behind the podium once more. Again, we were dressed in matching outfits—this time, royal blue—and held each other’s hands tightly. It was important that we presented a strong, united front to the public, Andrew argued, and since I didn’t quite understand what th
“I…you can…what?” I said, still trying to wrap my mind around what Andrew had told me. “I can read minds,” Andrew repeated. “That’s how I knew that you were telling the truth when you told me that you took the fall for Bob. I looked deep into your mind and found that you weren’t lying.” My hands sta
“Would he guard a woman who could assess numerical levels of people’s affinity for her if he knew?”Susan asked. I furrowed my brow. “What are you talking about?” “You have a power that you have not told anyone about, either, including Andrew.” I stared down at my red wine as I swirled it around
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