last piece of me I had left. My arms shook, my fingers locked so tight around the st

the bag from my hands, and walked on. I watched him go,

ag wasn't much, but it was mine. And

turned and walked ahead, the sound of his steady f

t tight. The night air felt colder

it looked like a coffin on wheels. Marcus opened the back door without a

ty disappeared behind me

my forehead against the cool glass, my breath fogging the window. My apartment. My bed. My books. All

th every turn the car made, pulling me deeper into a wor

en I s

ned slowly, groaning like an ancient beast. Beyond them, the house glowed under the night sky, all sharp li

statues that seemed to watch me with cold eyes. My pulse raced faster.

standing tall like a shadow carved from stone. He opened my door and

rp, expensive. Too expensive for me. I tightened my grip on my bag like it c

dizzy. The floors gleamed like glass, reflecting my every shaky step. Gold-framed paintings lined

as-none of this is mine

lence pressed hard against my chest. We stopped at a tall white

inside-

ream color, pillows stacked high like clouds. Curtains draped in gold shimmered softly in th

the room that

s waiting for

es

h one more daring than the last. The necklines plunged so low my chest tightened just looking at them

up neatly, each one worth more than my entire life savings. On the vanity sat boxes of jewelry,

en I s

ling

Tiny pieces of silk that weren't made to cover-they were made to reveal.

lothing. This

He was taking me apart, piece by pi

oud in the quiet room. My hands trembled as I wrapped my arms a

s my ne

hate

y and final. My chest rose and fell in quick, uneven breaths. My legs carried me closer to the bed, though e

nd back like I

t gifts. The

no? But the memory of Damian's eyes, sharp as knives, burned t

ds. The dresses blurred in my vision, their colors bleeding t

en I h

tst

ady. Comi

d grew louder, echoing in the hallway. Each step was calm, conf

mi

orknob

eath caught in my chest. The door o

here

me instantly. His gaze flicked from my face to the dresses, then back to me.

oftly, his voice smooth, dangerous. "No

ped. My pulse r

nt, I knew-this wasn

about o

sure I woul