crunched on the gravel driveway. The cool autumn wind push

or slammed open behind her. The heavy oak smashed against t

nst the masonry. "Chloe!" she called out, her voice dripping with sickeningly

alking. She did

oe's path, blocking her with the confidence of someone who had never been told no. She held up

a token of true love. You know, I almost felt bad for you. Almost." Her smile sharpened into something venomous. "But then I remem

e metal band, the specific cut of the glass face. She le

lmly. "He couldn't even be bothered to buy you something curr

contorted with sudden humiliation an

her off. Amber's head snapped toward the street. Sh

er own right ankle with both hands and threw her upper body backward, slamming into the gravel with practiced preci

trical scream that could have woken the neighbors thre

panic. He rushed to Amber's side and dropped to his knees in the dir

her into his arms, his hands trembling

he-she shoved me! I only came out to say goodbye, and she attack

bitch," he snarled at Chloe. "She came out here to wish you well, and this is how you r

ises in her ear, now kneeling in the dirt, cradling a liar in hi

er voice flat and cold. "You deserve a l

at all. "Look closely, Preston. Really look. If I shoved her, where's the dirt on my hands?

ctly clean palms, then to Amber's dramatically bloodied knees, then back

's lying!" she shrieked, clutching his arm. "She

For the first time, something that looked a

man who had betrayed her and the sister who had orchestrated it all. She lef

down the long driveway