I end the call and set my phone down on the bench beside me, exhaling a shaky breath. The guilt sits heavy in my chest, making it hard to breathe. Olivia’s excitement about Hunter’s masquerade ball and him as her fiancé cuts deeper than any knife could.
“You can’t do this to yourself.” Daisy’s voice pulls me back to the present. She’s standing there with a dress I hadn’t noticedbefore—a stunning black gown with a sweetheart neckline and delicate crystal beading that trails down like stars against a night sky. The fabric looks like liquid shadow, designed to move like water with each step.
“When did you find that?” I ask, reaching out to touch the smooth material.
“While you were on the phone. And don’t change the subject.” Daisy holds the dress against me, her eyes serious despite the beautiful gown between us. “This is perfect for you. But more importantly, Aurora, you need to tell Olivia tonight.”
My hand drops from the dress. “Tonight?”
“Yes, tonight. This has gone on long enough.” Her voice is gentle but firm. “Every day you wait makes it worse. You saw how excited she is about this party, and about a future with a man who’s sleeping with her sister.”
The words sting with their truth. I turn away from the mirror, unable to look at my own reflection. “I know.”
“Do you? Because this isn’t just about you and Hunter anymore. It’s about Olivia, who deserves better than this deception.” Daisy places the dress carefully on the hook and takes both my hands in hers. “It can’t go on any longer, Aurora. You know that.”
I close my eyes, picturing Olivia’s radiant face as she showed off the mask Hunter had custom-made for her. The same Hunter who whispered in my ear last night that I was the only one he wanted. The same Hunter, who is still technically her fiancé.
“You’re right,” I finally say, opening my eyes to meet Daisy’s concerned gaze. “I’ll tell her tonight.
“I’ll tell her tonight,” I say again, this time with more conviction. The weight of the decision settles over me, both burden and relief.
Daisy hands me the black gown. “Try this one.”
I slip it on, the cool fabric sliding against my skin like water. Daisy zips me up and steps back.
“Oh,” she whispers.
I turn to the mirror and catch my breath. The dress transforms me. The beading captures the light with each subtle movement, like stars appearing and disappearing in the night sky. The bodice hugs my curves, then flows into a skirt that seems to float around my legs.
“This is the one,” Daisy says behind me.
I nod, unable to speak. In this dress, I feel both powerful and vulnerable.
My mind races ahead to the masquerade. I’ll arrive early, before the crowds. I’ll find Olivia alone, pull her into one of the quiet corners away from prying eyes. I’ll start with how much I love her, how she deserves honesty above all else.
The words form in my head:Olivia, there’s something I need to tell you about Hunter and me...
But then what? How do I explain that her sister betrayed her? That the man she’s engaged to has been in my bed? That I’ve fallen for him despite knowing it was wrong from the very beginning?
I smooth my hands down the front of the dress, watching the crystals catch the light. Maybe I should start with Hunter’s feelings first.The engagement isn’t what you think. Hunter doesn’t want to marry you. He wants to be with me.
No, that sounds horrible, like I’m placing blame on her.
I practice another approach in my head:I need to tell you something that will hurt you, and I’m so sorry. Hunter and I have been seeing each other.
Simple. Direct. Honest.
The dress moves with me as I shift my weight, perfectly balanced between elegant and striking. I’ll wear this tonight when I finally tell the truth.
28
HUNTER
Iscan the ballroom from behind my obsidian mask, cataloging every entrance, exit, and security position. My men are stationed where they should be with two at each door, three circulating through the crowd, and five more monitoring from concealed positions in the mezzanine. The earpiece tucked discreetly beneath my mask buzzes with regular status updates.
“East entrance clear.”
“Northwest balcony secured.”
