Chapter 2

The first time,he was with a new Hollywood starlet.I leaked the story to the*New York Post*.Publicly,Damian did nothing.Privately,he cut off all my credit cards and trust funds until I begged him to stop.

The second time,he was involved with an Ivy League professor.I anonymously exposed their affair on an online forum.In return,“dirt”on me—exaggerated and fabricated details of my private life—was plastered all over the gossip sites.

…

“Oh,Aurora,”Chloe said,tossing a few pieces of lace lingerie at my feet.“These are couture.You'll have to hand-wash them.”

“A wild girl like me can't handle such delicate things.Remember that New Year's party in the Hamptons?Damian's suit was covered in champagne,and you washed it clean,didn't you?”

I remembered the stain on that suit perfectly.

I had asked Damian what it was.

“Spilled something at the party,who remembers,”he'd said,completely unconcerned.

He had insisted I hand-wash it with cold water and a specific detergent.The next day,the expensive suit was in the trash.

This time,I calmly pressed the toe of my high heel onto the pile of clothes.

“I'm not washing them.If you think they're dirty,throw them out.”

I saw a flash of anger in Damian's eyes.

I picked up my Hermès bag and turned to leave.

Behind me,Damian's voice was ice-cold.

“Aurora Collins,if you walk out that door today,you'll regret it.”

I paused for a second,then slammed the door shut.

On the road,I got a call from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“Miss Collins,Mr.Blackwood's account has stopped all payments for your brother Leo's medical expenses…”

But.

“My brother is already dead.”