Chapter 54

Rhys disappeared from my life. I didn't care if he was in jail or in a hospital, as long as he wasn't six feet under. It was a fine Friday, and I was at the Nyx Collective studio admiring the necklace I'd just designed. I'd used my employee perks to get it custom-made—my design, my materials, my signature, my everything. There was literally only one of these in the world. And in two days, it was going to be Yvaine's birthday present. I had barely had time to breathe in its perfection when my phone lit up with Yvaine's name. Shit. Had she somehow found out? Surprise ruined. I picked up, bracing myself. Instead, I got: "That dickstain! Next time I see him, I'm stapling his lying mouth shut. The balls on him, spewing bullshit like he's got a diploma in defamation. Did he eat shame for breakfast or was he just born this scummy?" "Whoa, slow down, what happened?" I asked. "Check your phone. I just sent you some screenshots. That sewer rat's mouthing off again." I opened the images. "Are you