Suzanne woke up, it turns out that it was all a dream. That Josie never left and she didn't really have the balls to confront her. Suzanne paced the length of the grand living room, her heart pounding against her ribs. The marble floors echoed her every step, as if mocking her turmoil. Josie's laughter rang out from upstairs, shrill and triumphant. Suzanne clenched her fists, swallowing the scream threatening to escape. She could handle Andrei's aloofness, his calculated coldness—but Josie's incessant taunts were a different beast altogether.
The sound of a door slamming jolted her out of her thoughts. Andrei entered, his expression as unreadable as ever. He carried himself with the kind of confidence that came from years of commanding respect—or fear.
"Andrei," Suzanne called, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
He paused, one brow arching in mild surprise. "Yes, Suzanne?"
