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“It was a big joke, Lil’. We just did it for shit and giggles, right?”

My little sister’s face crumples. To avoid losing him, she went too far, and it’s just dawning on her.

“You’re an immature, irresponsible asshole,” I hiss at Alonso.

Then, I go over to Lily and put my arms around her. Despite her anger, she doesn’t push me away.

“It was a moment of insanity. It happens. No one is judging you,” I whisper to her. “But we have to annul everything before it’s too late, Lily.”

“I hope that, one day, you’ll stop trying to live my life for me, Alma.”

60

Alma

After a visit to the marriage license bureau, disaster is averted. Felix and Lily admit they acted on impulse, and their marriage is annulled. My little sister, her poor heart battered and bruised, disappears into her bedroom and announces that she won’t be coming out again until we leave—which is tomorrow night.

Suddenly, I can’t wait to go back to Paris.

Vadim is on the phone when I find him in our suite. After a few clipped phrases, he quickly hangs up and comes over to join me on the couch.

“Is it done?” he asks, kissing me gently on the cheek.

“Yes. She’s devastated.”

“I’m sorry, Alma. I didn’t think Felix would do something like that to her. It was cruel of him.”

“I just hope he’s done toying with her.”

“I’ll make sure of it, I promise you.”

While I lose myself in his gray eyes, Vadim pulls me close to him. The warmth of his body almost manages to chase away my dark thoughts.

“Who was that?” I ask, pointing at his phone.

“Adrian.”

“Any news on Kate?”

“Yes and no. She’s called Dimitri a few times, but nothing incriminating so far.”

He tenses, and I sit up. The subject of Monkov has been brought up, and now he’s pulling away from me. Vadim runs a nervous hand through his hair, then gets to his feet.

“I’m going to hit the gym.” Vadim gives me a weary smile before leaving the room.

I’d promised Clémentine I’d join her anyway, so I change into my swimsuit. I’m about to leave the room when a buzzing sound catches my attention. I walk over to Vadim’s phone and see Zoey Thompson’s name appear on the screen.

Alma, don’t do this.

My mind warns me against it, but my hand doesn’t take any notice.

All these secrets, all these betrayals, all this manipulation going on around me… I think it’s starting to get to me. I grab the phone and open the text.

[Zoey Thompson

Next week’s schedule

is finalized. I forwarded it to your email.]