anna

at.

oth real and imagined - flooded into my mind. I felt dizzy, but s

shoulder. Smooth skin. A perfect,

room was pristine, untouched by violence or despair. On this quiet estate morning, the rustling of leaves out

sinking into the soft carpet. I stumbled into the en-suite bathroom,

de with a wild, disbelieving terror. But it was my face

d for my phone on the counte

reen l

numbers that made no sense. It was a mon

aw and choked, escaped my lips. I covered my mouth, but the tears came any

ive. I w

oor made me jump. "My lady? Ar

ice. My loyal serv

furiously, trying to compose myself. I

ve. Her kind face

d my arms around her, holding on like she w

kwardly patted my back. "There, th

the lines of her face. I made a silent vow, a promise etched onto my reb

motions. The softness in my eyes hardened, replaced b

And then, I want you to pick out a simple day dress for me. Something plai

her eyes, but she nodde

back the heavy curtains. Sunlight streamed in, so bright it made m

my priso

y huntin

was when Cameron had started spending his nights in the study, using "pack busin

ain pen. On a fresh sheet of paper from my per

me

n

dug into the paper,

e and his blind faith in Ana's lies. Ana's insat

ered with my breakfast tray. Her eyes dar

. This was the girl Ana had bribed. The

lver spoon and deliberately tapped it against the side of the porcelai

, a small, cold smile playing on

cally fled

held it over the candle on my desk, and watched it burn. The ed

l. With dark circles expertly smudged beneath my ey

fect ca

air behind my ear and met my

ling the cards." I whispered t