The penthouse of Sterling Tower was a fortress of glass and steel, suspended high above the sprawling grid of the city. Rain battered against the floor-to-ceiling windows, but inside, the air was warm and suffocatingly tense.

Clara sat wrapped in a thick cashmere blanket on the edge of a massive le

Clara’s trembling fingers could barely grip the heavy silver pen. She stared at the thick stack of legal documents Victor had placed on the leather sofa beside her, the words blurring together into a sea of meaningless black ink.

"Victor," Clara whispered, her voice cracking. "If I sign this... wh

The morning sun pierced through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, casting long, sharp shadows across the hardwood.

Clara stood in front of the guest bedroom mirror, staring at her reflection. She hardly recognized the woman looking back at her. The dark circles under her eyes were sti