er with Damien, and his words still echo

rry

unyielding-was etched into her th

enched tightly in her hand. It felt like it was burning he

l this fate's way of giving her th

righteous, how su

ance to make Nate and Vaness

ong, slow sip. The liquid soothed her throat but did little to calm the storm inside her. The room

t was the sound of

ready knew who it was before even gl

h a wary look in her eye, then finally she stopped t

she said gently, her voice laced

king absentminded in the way she lif

ned her mouth to speak, her words had nothin

y someone who ruined you," Isla began, her

her brow furrowing as she considered her response. "Well, I guess that dep

s because she genuinely didn't know. But the thought of Nate and Vanessa livi

ymoon photos. Vanessa in her designer swimwear, Nate smiling in the Maldives, both of them

. "Vanessa Hayes: From Best Fr

ness. The world had moved on, erasing her as if she had never exist

and it was her eyelids that were burning now, but she

hispered to herself, her vo

Isla stood by her

ng to and fro like fireflies, late-night pedestrians bearing torche

wasn't wat

g in the space she called her home, living their happily-ever-after life while she remain

nside her finally snapped, she moved. She snatched her phone from the table, f

th each ring, but her

rang once befor

expect

same baritone voice that had thrown

uldn't risk thinking now. Couldn't allow herself the luxury of doubt. S

'm

o much faster now as she waited for his response with

before giving way

a tone devoid of surpris

~

e heavily guarded estate those men had brou

he wasn't dragged, she w

ff, It was acceptance. She had chosen this pa

estroom one of the guards had led her

th a dark marble table at the center, where a single doc

of their arrangement: a three-year marriage

to do settled over her like a heavy blanket. This wasn't a union born of love or even

chin calmly as he waited for her to make

y what she wanted? Was she willing to sacrifice he

her. She reached for the pen, her hand steady as she signed her nam

hat familiar, faint smile. He picked up the pen

d," he said, his tone devoid of