Shattered Symphony: The Genius Lady Shines Again

xia

was gaunt, her cheekbones sharp against paper-

darkness of her pupils that

ocket. My mother's only legacy. She had died when I was eighteen, leaving me nothing bu

't been en

. He didn't know I had taught myself coding to understand the architecture of his world, o

s just "resting

assandra's bi

. Waiters moved through the crowd with the fluid grace of dancers, balancing

wore a red dress that cost more than my father made in a year. She was la

sed since he was three-was clinging

princess, Cassi

at me like tha

ll of her back. It looked nat

illar, a shadow

His smile was tight, a calculated performance

felt heavy, dragged dow

licious, sharp and bright as a diamond. She hooked her arm t

. "I was just telling Jacob. Since you can't play anymore, maybe

was precis

to speak, but Ja

d, patting my shoulder dismissi

ask. He ne

ried perfectly in the lull of conversation. She pointed a manicured finger at my t

tched. The dutiful wife. The frag

st my skin. My mother'

" I

n the air, soli

. "Alexia, don't be difficult. It's j

oice was steady, surprising even

nce. She looked down at Anton, widening her eyes in mo

had his father's cold eyes. "Mom, why are you so

e

ough the night. I had helped him with every hom

. He looked at me with profound disappointment. "A

hey were a family. A twisted, broken,

aving,"

s. "Fine. Go to your room if

accepting the job in Vien

a second, the mas

ndra move

ing at my throat. It happened in a

hain

t the marble floor wit

stomped he

h of gold collaps

yes were wide, innocent

ed metal. Today was the anni

b. He wasn't looking at the necklace. He was looking

to no one, my voice hollow.