Lilith couldn't sleep that night. As usual, Alexander had thrown a bomb over her head and then vanished without a trace. He'd confessed his true feelings and fled, God only knew where. Lilith stared out at the moonlit garden, a strange mixture of relief and dread washing over her. Relief that he hadn't blamed her, dread that his confession had changed everything. One thing was certain: she would never be able to pull Leah back anymore. Yet, despite everything, despite the turmoil and the pain, a sliver of hope, a fragile tendril of something akin to joy, bloomed within her. Perhaps, just perhaps, her day hadn't ended that badly after all.
The next morning, Lilith was standing in her walk-in dressing room, choosing an outfit for her first day at college. She was beyond excited, despite the
