Ninety-Nine Engagements, One Betrayal

na

bed me, their hands firm, unyielding. I struggled, but their strengt

Blindfolded. Trapped in a dark, suffocating space. The crushing weight of

errifying experience, the years of therapy, the lingering fear of enclosed spaces.

, Dayna," he had whispered, his voice a r

ng me. He was weaponizing my fear.

plunging me into absolute darkness. Panic seized me. My heart hammered against my ribs, my breath caught in my throat. I cla

est. But even in my terror, a stubborn defiance ignited within me. I would not break. Not for him. Not

as raw from screaming, my body weak from hunger and thirst. I was

echoed through the room. Brooks'

where. He had been watching me. Watching my terror, my struggle, my complete breakdown. He had seen my

erent. He was cruel. He was a monster. The man I had loved, the man I had m

lipsing the fear. I screamed, a primal, guttural sound of

ting black of the isolation room. My head throbbed, my body ached, but my mind wa

he's been released.

l update on his precious sister. I ripped the note i

f the cooling-off period. And Everleigh's engagement party, the one that had been

cries, I grabbed my clothes and dressed, my movements fueled by a newfound purpose. I need

The clerk, a kind-faced woman, offered a symp

rer," I said,

ed out, my phon

m. "I hope you're feeling better. I'm

s," I said, a danger

er everything with Everleigh, we need a united front. So, if you could just... make an appear

again. His smiling, talking prop. But this tim

aid, my voice sweet, clo

t. I knew you'd understand. I'

yes. I hailed a cab, not to the gala, but to the ai

my flight to Paris, my phone vibrated. A vid

e we have the lovely Mrs. Dayna Preston," she chirped, turning the camera towards me. "Lo

ve a special message for Everleigh tonight." I looked directly at the camera, my gaze piercing. "Everleigh, darling, congratulations o