After Betrayal, She Claimed Her Empire

t flooded through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illu

bed with a dull, rhythmic ache, a souvenir from the scotch at Obsidia

erena insisted on burning. He expected the sound of her shuffling fe

le

ent was de

asn't calling her because he cared; he needed his

ans

his skin. "Serena, don't play ga

. The counter was bare. Th

lway to the master bed

hed it

he light reflecting off the

hole gaped in the center, surrounded by a web of cracks. The smell of Chan

the he

room, his shoes cr

the nig

nake. The wedding band, stained with

writing was neat, small. The tru

n he laughed. A short

muttered. "She'

se. Or to some cheap hotel to wait for him to call and beg her to come back. She

is phone and di

g his temples. "She's throwing a tantrum. I want t

he other end. A long,

ly. "Mrs. Sterling... Serena... she

d stopped massaging h

waived all rights to alimony, spousal support, and the marita

r tilt slightly. "Sh

her half of the joint checking account back to you. We j

oked around the room. The close

ut the rows of designer dresses, the furs, the bags he had his assistant

ook n

h

She had no money, no job, no prospects. She needed hi

tion in his stomach. Loss of c

g," Julian said

ut you

ile anything until I find her. I need to k

rn that he was the master of this game. He wouldn't give her the satisfac

d her ce

ve dialed is no l

d at the

buzzed. It

s making that noise again. And I saw the cutest

rs, Julian felt a flash of irri

Elena,"

use

ot now."

"Track Serena's credit card. The

yed. The last transaction was a cab fare to Midtown at 11:30 PM. Since then,

e crunch of glass under h

ne. Withou

ional Airpor

, a sanctuary of beige l

ed sunglasses that covered half her face and a

d her. He carried a leather briefcase. He didn't

ngton," he

e had addressed her by her mother's maiden name. The name tha

voice was steady, thou

d said. He placed a new passport on the table i

e arran

ier is the best metabolic specialist in the world. He

about pain,"

astic surge

ic surgery. I want to heal the skin, not change the face. I

m of respect in his e

s hand. "Your

nded him

he oth

rash can on

urely." He gestured to a nearby security detail. Two men

won't need those clothes where you ar

d it away. It contained the last remnants of Sere

stoo

k back at the suitcase. She didn't look back at the s

. The wind whipped her hai

tream G650. The inter

ane began to taxi, she felt the vib

looking for someone to blame. But he wouldn't file the papers immediately.

he realized she was truly

up speed. The force push

ame ants. The buildings became toys. The penth

hispered against the cold glass.

arp right, disappea