se and fall of his chest, the rhythmic blip of the heart monitor a fragile reas

s, endless loop. He destroyed my sister. It couldn't be true. Her father

institution, had crumbled almost overnight. The key investors pulling out, the sudden regulatory

truth. She had to

e white blouse and jeans from the day before, now wrinkled and smelling faintly of antise

me and went. T

ent straight to voicemail.

ement. Businessmen rushed past, tourists posed for photos, pigeons pecked at d

s agreement had been nothing more than a final, cruel twist of the kni

doubled over, pressing her hand against the ache. The pain, the humiliation, the crushing w

t break. She ha

ending out a spray of brilliant, mocking sparks. The "Eternal Heart," Damien had called it whe

felt strange, her hand suddenly light and bare. She walked

lush carpets. The saleswoman, a polished blonde named Jenny Price, gave Seraphina'

y I hel

e velvet tray, Jenny's eyes widened in recognit

instantly shifting to one of fawning

, her voice steady.

stopped what they were doing, their ears p

ing, sickly-sweet voice cut through the quiet. "Well,

er arm linked with an older, impeccably dressed woman. Bianca was g

nding on the ring. She brought a perfectly manic

lling your wedding ring? Does Damien k

ares like physical blows. She was a spectacle. The fallen wif

ca. "This has noth

nounced, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Name your price. Consider it a favor

amily" as if she were

plessly from Bia

her sides. She would rather throw the rin

through gritted teeth, reaching f

isper, laced with condescending pity. "Don't be proud, Seraphina. I know you need t

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