Chapter 5

"Armor?" Clara asked, following Victor out of the hospital cafeteria. Her cheap flats squeaked slightly on the linoleum floor. "What are you talking about?"

"Julian and Vanessa are attending the Crystal Foundation Charity Auction tonight," Victor said, his long strides forcing Clara to j

Chapter 6

The silence in the ballroom lasted exactly three seconds before the whispers erupted. They hissed through the crowd like a lit fuse, accompanied by the blinding, rapid-fire flashes of paparazzi lenses.

Clara kept her chin high, her hand resting firmly on the crook of Victor’s velvet-clad

Chapter 7

The silence inside Victor’s penthouse was a stark contrast to the chaotic roar of the paparazzi they had just left behind.

High above the glittering grid of Manhattan, the billionaire’s residence was a sprawling testament to modern minimalism. Polished concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling