's

hing, my head pounding. It took me

at I was sent to do.

re the gift was supposed

the room spun around me. I wasn't in the clothes I'd worn to the part

elf, trying to piece it together. But every

essage. My stomach dropped w

as I opened the mess

, what ha

g "open attachment," my heart somersaulted, nearly fallin

was

closer. Oh my God! It's the ma

ked under the sheets. My face looked wild, as if

ere sleeping comfortably, as if we

't remember anything after opening the door to this room. My mind wa

the arrival of another message. Opening it, I found this one to be

ckly moving towards the shower in the room. I had

es from the closet, tying them to fit around my small frame. This had to b

e with Natalia so that I could expre

me in the face, and I instinctively wrap

The flowers hadn't bloomed this mornin

n, her arms crossed, her face furious. But she had t

, her hand flew across my

d, stunned to silence. Why did she slap me? Before

was sharp and furious. "How could you do this to

o words came out. I thought she orchestrated it. I wanted to de

pathetic, whispered, "I...

she spat, her vo

u!" Her voice broke, and she looked away, her chest rising and falling

was completely lost. So that was Liam. Did he do it on purp

Liam. "I swear, I don't know what happ

oice interrupted, colder than Na

ld be ash

other walking toward us, her expression one of pur

t, her eyes flicking between me and Natalia, and the co

daughter. But this? Sleeping with your sister's boyfriend

myself, but my words seeme

g, but I couldn't. How could I defend something I didn't understan

mother cut me off wit

owing. "Don't embarrass yourself any

on washing over

preading into a sly smirk. "It's simple,

ch to the gut. "What?" I ga

her voice composed, as if she we

m sure the media would love to know how Ava Patel, the cruel daught

ispered, shaking my head. "You can't do this.

, naive Ava," she said, shaking her head.

what is s

r of Ditech-for weeks now. Liam is nothing but a filthy li

the engagement party, the mention of Jim the ot

I heard footst

anding at the edge of the garden, h

ve heard e

aid softly, his voice laced with bitte

ered. "You served your purpose, Liam. Don't

licker there-regret, maybe. Or pity. "Miss Ava.. I didn't know. I sw

worry, you guys didn't do the nasty.

ugged, but we never went to the same room. Some rooms in the mansion looked

t be? Marry Liam and save what little dignity you have

t in a hard glare, his eyes cold and intense. He didn't say a word at fir

"One day, you're going to regret every single thing

er of surprise on her face before she quickly masked it with a smirk. But I c

e ourselves clear. Let's go inside. I'm sure Ava will do the right thing, won't she

leaving me and Liam standing there alone, their laug

He turned to me and I could see his face stil

I be fine, Liam? What are we supposed to do? Can't you j

t before hardening again. "No. Not right now. I'm just

icker of something I hadn't

er. "I know you don't want to do this. But right now, we have to play along. Let

ly, like he was talking about avenging more than

then, Liam?" I murmured

, his eyes holding a sini