Another one of the many evenings, Amira found herself lost in a crowd of elites, all for show. The chandeliers glinted above them like polished stars, but every breath she took tasted like poison.

She smiled and nodded, letting Montez curl his hand possessively around her waist like she was his prized possession—his diamond wrapped in silk. The cameras flashed. They were the couple considered effortless, enviable, and untouchable.

But under the perfect surface, ...