otte'

re apart, and I slappe

de, drunken confusion inst

insane, C

me that pendant. Why

eyes, and he instinct

r," he stammered. "I ju

er'? Like you just 'wanted me to host her'? Like you

of grievance and confus

e, making me think I was special, unique, the one who 'understo

n't expected me to see thr

ir. "Yes, maybe at first, there was a... resemblance. Ariel and I had a deep intellectual connection. But she was my stude

my hand, but I pu

coldly. "You fell in love with having a version of 'her.' Don't

oo emotional. That's why I hesitated to tell you. You women-always s

rs, my life, my choices, even my appearance-all to please you.

roared. "Our wedding is in two weeks! If you keep carrying on li

only strengthened my resolve. What he cared ab

tters to me anymore? Compared to my dignity? Compar

th. My mind was ma

ff, Bradley," I s

ace. "Impossible. This is impossible! Don't

lleagues, and your beloved Ariel that I will not marry a man who only saw me as a substi

d a small, exquisite box on the van

strength. It struck the wall beside Bradley with a du

d and fearful. It was the fi

Charlotte. Without

're already nothing, Bradley. And I'd rather be no

. If that's what you want, so be it. I'm leaving. When you

or, and the sound

rp scissors, grabbed my thick mane of long h

strand that fell felt like it was severing the past. When

irror. It wasn't perfect, but it was r

e and called Dylan Lott,

like a sedative, easi

y. "It's Charlotte. I... I need yo