RA

ke a whirlwind spinning out of control. Voices swirled around me, but the

I couldn't eve

eaded with me to save Logan's life. They looked so guilty now. They

me. His mother, his sister, and her-Latasha, his

alf, you cheap whore? Who gave you the right?" his

ngered his life, you gold digg

r, don't you, you barren witch!" Latasha's voice was lac

cause I decided to save the life

*

YEARS

t of the premises that had caged me for three whole years. There was no one t

savings, friends, everything-because

I had. What did the Harringtons need my money for? I knew the fine they demanded wasn't even a drop in the oce

me wherever I didn't even have to call home. If the kind warden hadn't slipped me the ten-dol

from Logan's house. No matter how angry I felt, I

for their son. They had opposed the wedding, especially Violet and Kayl

nd Mrs. Williams, who died in a car accident when I was thirteen.

that I was cursed wi

gan," I gulped when the secu

e to see Logan again? Even though I no longer had an

n prison. Not a single 'thank you' for saving his

man asked, pulling m

ting deep and striking a nerv

ave to inform the boss's wife th

ctually gone ahead and married his mi

familiar voice of the woman who ruined my life,

ght bitterly. Well, I

gs. I don't want any trouble,

ing her arms. "Look at you, so pathetic. I guess prison wasn't s

how hungry I was. I wasn't in the mood for a f

again, trying to be polite, though i

voice called from behind La

le girl. Tears welled in my eyes. The realization hit me like a pu

ed, her voice filled with rage. "Leave and never come back, or I

a's place crossed my mind, but I quickly pushed the thought away. She hadn't come to s

h panic. Curiosity got the best of me, and I hurried toward them. It was right ou

er than Latasha's daughter, lying on the ground, gasping for air. She was obvious

all alone? I wondered, hesita

one's life ever again. The last time I did, it ruined mine.

She's gonna die!" one of the kids

d her struggle, her tiny h

airway closed off, and the panic in the chil

ling. "You need to call someone. The academy... they'll help." My vo

ooted to the spot, my past pinning me in place. Couldn't move. Couldn't say another word

breathing had slowed down a great deal. She

rusts in order to get the nut out of her windpip

ade of blue. I could hear her shallow breaths, the sharp rasp of air struggling to pu

doing? It was all

ove! A tiny voice in

before I could act, the sound of

eam of, pulled up to the curb in front of the academy. It screamed wealth and p

charcoal-colored suit. He held a beautiful life-sized doll In his hand, del

ttle girl on the ground. Panic flashed across his face, and witho

de the girl. He seemed to know a lo

rp, controlled blows to her back. He kn

m her throat. The man swiftly tilted her forward, clearing her airway. Relief washed over his

faces the moment their gazes rested on the man. One of the women picked up coura

You let her out here while no one was supervising? Do you know what could've happene

nt, our gazes locked, and the sheer contempt in his ocean-blue eyes burned through me like acid. He s

And did nothing while my daughter was helpless and dying. You're

der than I had braced myself for. My

was too scared to save a

syllable that cam