The Blackwood Charity Gala was a sea of silk, diamonds, and fake smiles. Alexander kept his hand firmly on the small of my back, his presence a constant reminder that I was his property. I was wearing a black lace mask, but even then, I felt exposed.
10:00 PM.
"I need a moment to fix my makeup," I whispered to Alexander.
He looked at me, his eyes dark and suspicious. "Five minutes, Elena. If you're not back, I'll come looking for you."
I nodded and hurried toward the terrace. The night air was cold, and the garden below was shrouded in mist. I saw a man standing in the shadows of the stone pillars. He was tall, wearing a tuxedo, and a silver mask that covered half his face.
"You came," he said. The raspy voice from the phone.
"Who are you?" I demanded, stepping closer. "And how do you know so much about Isabella?"
The man reached up and slowly removed his mask. My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat. I felt like the world was spinning.
It was Julian. Alexander's twin brother, the one everyone said had died in the same car accident as Isabella.
"Julian?" I gasped. "But... they said you were dead."
"Alexander wants everyone to think I'm dead so he can keep his secrets buried," Julian said, his eyes full of bitterness. "He didn't love Isabella, Elena. He was obsessed with her, just like he is with you. I'm here to take you away before he does to you what he did to her."
"And what did he do?" I asked, trembling.
"He didn't save her," Julian whispered. "He chose the family's reputation over her life. Now, come on. The car is waiting."
I turned to run with him, but a cold, familiar voice echoed behind us.
"I should have known you were still crawling in the shadows, Julian."
Alexander was standing at the terrace entrance, a silver pistol glinting in the moonlight. He wasn't looking at his brother. He was looking at me, his face a mask of pure, terrifying betrayal. "Get away from him, Elena. Now.