Riley’s pov
I curled up in bed, hugging my knees as I tried to hold back the sobs that kept forcing their way out. I felt foolish, ridiculous even, for letting myself believe that things might be different this time. I’d thought maybe Alexander could be someone I could trust, someone who’d see past everything and just… be there for me. But of course, that was just another lie I’d told myself. How could I, of all people, expect someone like Alexander Lockwood to care about me?
So all these time, I’m just a game to them? A trophy to be won to impress their father ? But why? Why can’t something in my life be genuine for once.
I felt my heart sink further. How could I have let my guard down, even for a second? This was my life, after all. Riley—the girl who things never went right for,
