d before

r wish was

es widened

came increasin

e Hart family anymore... despite everyth

adually gathered at th

o leave, but..." she sniffled

r rolled dow

n't listen

emained

ing herself appear

alous because W

ed her he

ally betrothed to the real

laced a hand

ch i

as always

ed drama

fuses to acc

cided to submit an application j

's en

nterrupted her and s

s not

ession h

ver do somethi

m with an expres

s the trut

another b

. just le

y tried pers

other and

ermined to leave

at, Ava turned

der Brother und

a hand against her chest as

..." she sa

r all these years only for h

trembled w

what she as

ently sta

ch it cost to raise

k her head in

ul can someon

help letting ou

...she only said that because all o

tantly fill

cross every memb

ll kno

came even m

she says things she

eve she's happy about

ectly at Mr.

mply stood by and

posed to do?" Ava

ady found

he meant every

way another

t let her g

d building a rela

to be a go

ps tre

he hat

silently before lett

lationship

er his breath, his eyes fil

a single wor

t of hesitation, he s

to bring

echoed throughou

eft his mouth, Ava felt

panic wash

ed violently in

o

't fin

e tells him

ain composed despite the

? I'm afraid she w

Hart family for good. Ava thought inwardly. If she knows wha

for a few seconds, Ava fin

then, B

ally what you

ed a sma

e she'll lis

er a

r favorite

head as though

agrees to

l never frustr

ake her sa

a long look bef

oo

oward Mr. a

be b

pond, Bryce turned around and strode out