Eloise stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection like it was a crime scene. She could almost hear her conscience whispering, "You are truly a walking disaster, Eloise." The shame gnawed at her insides, and honestly, she couldn’t blame it. She had considered asking Lucian for help, begging him to buy her way out of the Scarlet Heart Club and free her from this nightmare. But the words? Yeah, they just refused to leave her mouth. Her throat felt like a desert.
"Do you want to say something?" Lucian’s voice sliced through the awkward tension. Just as he turned to leave her at the door of the club, he caught her attention. She could feel him sizing her up, probably trying to figure out if she had something dramatic to say.
"No. Nothing," Eloise managed, her voice dry enough to
