"Well, thanks, but why don''t you go try your luck with someone else?"


    Scales had never failed at chasing a woman.


    For days now, he''d had his assistant deliver gifts by the dozen, but this woman? She didn''t even spare them a nce.


    He simply couldn''t believe it-how could one little starlet be so hard to win over?


    "Now I''m determined," he announced, waving over hispanions. "Magnus, Sammy,e here and eat with us."


    Nte had never met a man so shameless.


    "Are you out of your mind? Didn''t you hear me? Just looking at your face ruins my appetite."


    Scales, humiliated in front of a crowd by a woman''s blunt words, clenched his jaw. "You''d better remember this. Next time you''re in my bed, you''ll be screaming my name even louder."


    Isadora and Nte were eating quietly in a secluded booth, a wooden screen shielding them from most of the restaurant. But with themotion growing louder, people began to recognize Nte-the famous actress-and soon the curious crowd was raising their phones to snap photos.


    Worried that Nte would be swept up in another scandal just as thest rumor had finally died down, Isadora gently tugged her sleeve.


    "Scales."


    A low, chilly voice sounded from nearby.


    Scales waved. "Magnus! Over here! Isadora''s here too. Looks like there''s one girl for each of us tonight!"


    Magnus'' eyes were cold, unreadable. "We''re leaving. Now."


    Scales thought he''d misheard.


    "I said, let''s go!"


    Magnus shot Isadora a long, frosty look, then turned and walked away.


    Scales, grumbling under his breath, red at Nte. "Just you wait."


    With that, he stomped off in a huff to catch up.


    Sammy, thest to leave, paused by Isadora and Nte''s table. "Sorry for the disturbance," he said politely.


    Isadora smiled. "It''s fine."


    Nte nced at Sammy, her expression unreadable.


    Sensing someone''s eyes on him, Sammy looked back with a polite smile, nodded


    to the women, and followed after his friends.


    Nte watched them disappear.


    "Did Magnus wake up on the wrong side of the bed? He usually loves making


    things difficult for you. Why did he just walk away tonight?"


    Isadora was just as surprised. She shook her head, unsure.


    But Magnus hadn''t lost his edge.


    Ever since that muddled night when he''d mistaken Elise for Isadora and slept with her, he hadn''t dared face Isadora again.


    Elise texted him every day, even showing up at Wainwright Holdings a few times, but he always refused to see her.


    By all rights, after what had happened between Isadora and Victor, Isadora


    shouldn''t matter to him anymore-she wasn''t "innocent" either.


    But Magnus couldn''t shake the feeling that he''d betrayed her.


    *


    After their meal, Nte rushed off to catch her next flight back to set.


    Isadora said her goodbyes, then drove home alone.


    Suddenly-BANG! A deafening noise shattered the silence.


    Her car jolted violently, veering out of control. Heart pounding, Isadora mmed


    on the brakes. Tires screeched, and the car finally shuddered to a halt.


    She quickly jumped out and hurried to check the wheels.


    Her breath caught one tire was bristling with nails, dozens of them hammered in tight.


    That couldn''t be right. The car had just passed its inspectionst month-there was no way something like this should happen.


    She pulled out her phone to call for a tow.


    But as she nced up, two dark figures appeared beneath the streetlights, moving steadily toward her.


    A chill of dread crawled up her spine.


    Without thinking, Isadora turned to run.


    But before she could take a step, a strong hand mped down on her from


    behind, pressing a cloth over her mouth and nose.


    A harsh, stinging scent filled her senses.


    Her head spun, vision swimming. Her body went limp, and darkness swallowed her whole.