her relationship with Liam was bad enough-he'd taken her love and twisted it into something unrecognizable. But Damian Blac

lming her. She needed to clear her head, to figure out what came next. The noise of the city seemed to echo

n the screen-it was Lauren, her best friend. Bella stared at t

calling you since last night. You just disappe

d it almost undid her. "I... I don't even know whe

e are you right now? I

side the Wa

doing there?" Lauren's voi

Can we just meet up? I don't.

at little café down the street, the one we

ut what happened with Liam yet-hadn't had the chance, really-but now she was going to have to lay everything out

exhaustion and disbelief. She stared blankly out the window, watching people hurry past, their lives norm

ing the room before locking on Bella. She rushed over, slidi

" Lauren asked, leaning forward

herself from falling apart. "Liam... he

k and anger flaring in them. "He dru

d everything seemed fine, but then he gave me this wine. I thought it tasted weird, but I didn't think much of it. And then... I don't know. Every

g her mouth. "That son of a bitch. He... he set

and his new girlfriend, the billionaire's daughter. He used the hotel video to

going to punch him right in his smug face. How could he do this to you? A

, her throat tight. "But

on evident. "What do you me

king the words out loud would make them more real.

ping open. "The Damian Blackwood? As

oke up this morning, he was just... there. Cold, distant. He didn't even car

e in disbelief. "Holy shit, Bella. This

buried her face in her hands. "I don't know what I'

ierce. "We're going to figure this out. We're going to ruin Liam for what he did

es. Damian wasn't someone you just forgot about. He was powerful, and if what h

here," Bella whisper

go?" Lauren asked, her b

now yet. But I can't stay here,

ested. "At least for a few days.

en nodded slowly. "Yea

ng smile. "Good. We'll get throug

wn, she knew that whatever came next, it

table storm of gossip that was bound to spread after Liam's stunt. She couldn't even think about her job at th

ed from her life. He might have been dismissive in the moment, but men like him didn't let things slide easily. She kept waiting fo

n, it h

ing just as Bella was stepping out to get some fresh air. Her stomach sank as the window rolled down a

e but firm tone. "Mr. Blackwood would l

. But she knew she couldn't avoid this forever. She squared

t whatever Damian wanted, it wouldn't be si