Chapter 205

Madison

The cab ride home was a blur of city lights and muffled conversations. I stared out the window, watching as we moved from the sleek high-rises of Midtown to my more modest neighborhood. My mind kept bouncing between thoughts of Alexander, my mother’s impending discharge, and my upcoming meeting with Caroline.

What would Caroline tell me about Katherine? And more importantly, did I really want to know?

“Here we are, miss,” the driver announced, pulling up to my apartment building.

I paid the fare and stepped out onto the sidewalk. My building wasn’t fancy but had good security and decently sized apartments. After the opulence of Alexander’s world, it felt almost comforting in its ordinariness.

Once inside, I kicked off my heels with a sigh of relief and headed straight for the shower.

The hot water felt divine against my skin, washing away the tension of the day. I closed my eyes, letting the steam envelop me as I shampooed my hair.