ETHAN

I stood frozen by the edge of my desk, watching as Elora walked out with her head high and that tailored dress hugging her like a second skin.

Something wasn’t right.

She was always composed, yes, but this… this was different. The way she spoke back. The way she looked me in the eye was like I didn’t scare her anymore. The way she smelled like old money and designer confidence.

She wasn’t the Elora Miller I’d carefully manipulated. She wasn’t the girl who blushed every time I leaned in, the one who looked like she’d shatter if I raised my voice.

Something or someone had gotten to her....