ISON

hes clumped with tears and my c

e was looking down at me with a c

he crowd murmu

ppled through the café the m

ldric Haw

he doin

e getting

gh the crowd, but no one seemed br

tly is goi

authority behind his words immediately silenced the room. It was the ki

round my shoulders. My hands were still trembling as I wiped away the tears on my face, and although I hated how

llowed nervously bef

between Aldric and me, "this woman wa

ould stop myself. "That's not

across her chest and lift

n that bag. Every

fé as people exchanged uncertain looks, clearl

from humiliation and anger, I forced myself to hold my ground. "Clarisse plant

out a disbe

. Do you seriously expec

oug

and the effect was immediate. The room fell sil

ent, his gaze s

everything that had happened, a fragile spark of hope stirred inside me. I didn't

adable as his gaze moved slowly from Clarisse to Belle, t

ion before publicly humiliati

er swallo

w the wallet

ldric cut in. "Did you confir

uttered. "I...

ed on someone's claims and harassed a

ped forward, "Sir, there's no point

to the manager, "I would like

r nodded h

ally isn't worth your time. She's just a f

his head slo

t I do with my tim

's smile

tage," Aldric said, alrea

rantically. "Of cour

c, my heart pounding so loudly I

he café, the manager

eaned clos

n't interfere with stuff l

t her without spa

r fumbled with the controls, as he searched fo

d Belle entering the café. The

could still remember t

my bag, while I was ignoring them; she slipped her wall

hat it..." Clarisse sta

m Clarisse, obviously

al as he looked at Clariss

quietly, "yo

ped to her kn

ear! I was doing it for you."

row furrow

r m

as though she had finally fou

ister's fiancé. I just wanted to teach her a lesson and make sure she unders

mach d

ot what h

t the words out before

related

to catch Clarisse

er confidence falteri

o, sir,

to involve yourself i

ething about the way he said it

e visib

y trying to hel

N

s gaze

ur position to settl

nce settled

ue, but whatever she saw in his expres

re fi

nt landed l

Aldric in disbelief. His expression remained unreadable, as though he

the ground had disappe

Wha

ve immed

s voice left no ro

looded

y anymore, she stumbled forward

o this. I made a mistake. I

so much as g

to the café manager, who was al

per verification," Aldric said evenly, "you'll h

owed hard before

r. Hawthorne.

ldric gesture i

pologize

fted toward

gize t

efore finally lowering herself in front

y that she could barely get the words out. "I swear I'll nev

, I simply s

ers threw accusations and drinks in my face, convinced that she could de

of me couldn't deny the rush of relief that came wit

ion, Aldric glance

ebrow lifte

unspoken question,

be all the an

oo

n Clarisse's face, and she looked up at him

didn't

Aldric said coolly. "I don't want to see

drained fr

ir

, or cry, but Aldric had already turned away,

ce, he started toward the exit b

ect your belonging