Chapter 16 The Other Man

• Once Stefano's car left her curb, Serena sluggishly took off her heels, the soft thud of the shoes hitting the floor a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside her. Flinging them into her cluttered closet, she strode to her dresser mirror, where her reflection glared back at her like a specter.
• She stared for minutes, motionless, her mind replaying the moments that had left her feeling so unsettled —The Dinner and dance with the Devil, ‘Stefano.’
• The memories swirled like a toxic storm, refusing to dissipate. Shaking off the lingering emotions had become another mission for her. Mission impossible.