avenpo

to freeze solid as I stood my ground, refusin

e, his chest rising and falling hard before he finally turned

iped her tears with a tissue and tugged gently on

ntal issues from her past scandals,

ering her head to look as pi

I'm willing to stay in the shadows and be the wo

s sickening act made my stomach turn, though I

stained face, a heavy mix of guilt and

inner pocket of his suit jacket, and pu

my throat at the sight of the massive antique s

ry passed down for generations that only the legal

college, I had dreamed a hundred times about the day Fi

la right away; instead, his icy blue eyes shifted over Car

ked like he was waiting for me to scream, cry, or beg him not to give my ri

and spoke in a low, flat voice

ide for five years, so you dese

y worst bully felt like a heavy hammer smashing my ri

st dug my fingernails into my scarred palms and stared b

an's fingers tightened around the edge of th

the necklace out of the box to put it around

round, and walked with heavy steps into the guest

amily heirloom, why did he have to trap

y about how pretty the sapphire looked, while Fi

suite slammed shut with a loud bang, followed by Carmela'

my knees to my chest until night fell and my ph

ate lawn for breakfast to finalize the wedding det

bitter laugh, stood up, and walked into the bathro

r onto my face over and over until my skin wen

chin; since they were forcing me to sit at their tab