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Mythe way, I deludedGideon and I could have it all

That being in love was all we needed

I guess because I never really thought I’d ever fall in love like that, and there’s the whole myth that when you do, you’re supposed to live happily ever after"

Cary pressed his lips to

I wish I could fix it"

"I don’t knohy it never occurred to me to just find someone I can be happy with"

"Too bad we don’t want to bang each other

We’d be perfect"

I laughed and leanedended, we pulled apart and started toward our table

I felt fingers circleinto the eyes of Christopher Vidal Jr, Gideon’s half brother

"I’d like to have the next dance," he said, his n of the malicious man I’d witnessed on a secret video Cary had captured during a garden party at the Vidal residence

Cary stepped forward, looking at me for cues

My first instinct was to refuse Christopher, and then I looked around

"Are you here alone?" "Does it ed me into his arot her," he said to Cary, sweepingme to dance

I’d been on un falling apart at that point

"You look fantastic, Eva

I love your hair"

I ht smile

"Thank you"

"Relax," he said

"You’re so stiff

I won’t bite"

"Sorry

Just want to be sure I don’t offend whoever you’re here with"

"Just n with Vidal Records"

"Ah"

My senuine

That was just what I was hoping to hear

As we danced, I kept searching the roo ended and Elizabeth Vidal stood, catching my eye

She excused herself from her table and I excused myself from Christopher, who protested

"I have to freshen up," I told hi you a drink when you co whether I should just coht he was a total asswipe of epic proportions

I didn’t know if Magdalene had told hiured there was probably a good reason why

I waited for Elizabeth just outside the bathroo out in the hallway and s straight black hair and the sa at her made my heart hurt

I missed Gideon so much

It was an hourly battle with et"Eva"

She greeted me with air kisses for each of my cheeks

"Christopher said it was you

I didn’t recognize you at first

You look so different with your hair like that

I think it’s lovely"

"Thanks

I need to talk to you

Privately"

"Oh?" She frowned

"Is soestured deeper down the hallway, toward the eency exit"What’s this about?" Once ere away from the bathrooms, I told her

"Remember when Gideon was a child and he told you he’d been abused or violated?" Her face paled

"He told you about that?" "No

But I’ve witnessed his nights for er

It was all I could do not to keepboth embarrassed and militant

"It was your job to protect and support him!" Her chin went up

"You don’t know - ""You’re not to blaot in her face, felt satisfaction when she took a step back

"But anything that happened after he told you is entirely your fault"

"Fuck you," she spat atabout