Alec stood in the center of his opulent room, the lights dimmed, casting soft shadows across the marbled floor and dark mahogany furnishings. His eyes were glued to the enormous screen in front of him, where Salena’s interview was being broadcast live. Her face filled the frame—elegant, poised, and heartbreakingly distant. She wore white, her hair loosely tied, lips painted the softest nude, and a practiced smile curved her lips.
But Alec saw what others missed.
Her fingers twisted the hem of her dress in her lap. Her smile faltered for just a second when the reporter asked, “How do you feel about Alec’s sudden marriage?” She didn’t blink. She answered calmly. “That’s his personal decision. I wish him well.”
But her voice trembled—barely noticeable to anyone who didn’t know her soul lik
