POV Four

ose

nd fiddling with her sparkly pink purse. The next, she's go

eps up slowly, tightening my throat, s

ration's anniversary gala. The people here, sleek, powerful, too busy sipping

't have b

have been

told myself it was for the company. For the future. But I knew what

I was speaking with, touches

t know. She was just here. She said some

. "That was nearly

told her to wait. I should've taken her. I

. "It's okay. Let's

tep. I barely see the gilded walls, the floating waiters, or the CEO I came to impress. All I see

restroom door

ans

time. "Sweetheart

le

I bite it down. I will not lose

plit up. I'll check the courtyard. Y

y breathing.

ls be damned. My lungs burn, my vision blurs, and the air sme

feel hotter. The music is lou

en, I

f baby-pi

is

eone towering over her. Her little hands move like she's conducting an

trips ove

barely dodging a wa

p the second she

r bracelet flies off

scoop her up, bu

ing with her isn't ju

ot a s

eason I le

fe, changed my name, dyed m

ard

x-hu

gest m

smiling at my daught

he se

mach l

ht of what we were, what we never became,

sharp, steel-grey eyes, lock onto mine. Recognitio

abe

's a question. Like he

hat. Everyone else calls

d her where tha

r hand. "

ks. "But

ow

t. I don't

ice chases

ai

do

'll crumble. Or sc

ed but obedient. She knows w

. Be

ey a

st

ng like she just realized the man I wa

d, talking to him," Ashley s

too sharp. "Thanks aga

orward, voice low but

ightens. "

blink. "She

y no

Daisy again. H

rclap waiting to hit, he turns

a Greyson. CEO of Eag

nd to open and

some ghost resurrected in si

respond.

oss his face? That arrogant, b

just pieced i

My fingers tremble ag

kno