Sadie’s POV
The city lights stretched across the skyline like a river of gold, and I sat on the edge of my apartment couch, fingers tracing the hem of my dress, still warm from the gala. My chest felt tight, my pulse erratic, as though my body was replaying every subtle brush of Liam’s hand, every fleeting glance we had exchanged.
I tried to steady my thoughts. This was not about attraction. This was about control, about survival, about keeping my sister’s treatment funded and secure. The gala had been another test — and in many ways, I had passed. I had smiled when necessary, laughed when appropriate, and followed Liam’s lead flawlessly. Every interaction had been measured, precise, professional.
And yet, as I replayed it in my mind, I realized something dangerous: my body remembered w
