a bitter smile

Vance," I said

him Mr. Vance si

ss, the formality,

n his eyes. He sensed something had chang

n't unders

ndra, his arm goin

ured, loud enough for me to hear. "Spoiled,

cottage, leaving me with th

a look of pure, triump

rhaps we should get married sooner rather than later. After

was swee

led with affection. "Anything for yo

me in the sudden, stark si

ulian for the

final preparations for

, packing the few bel

tep away from him

avoided any chance of enco

couldn't bring myself to try and fix i

gathered all

eenage confessions, the ones

small, rusty incinera

o burn the pa

ched the first pag

. Severing the

d's name ar

arp and angry, cut

face a mask of fury. He

half-burnt jour

n? What is this, Mia? More dramatics?

charred pages, his ex

sed with thi

g. There was

nderstand. He

oldering remain

he wedding," he announced, his voice cold

eaction. Tears,

. "Congratula

d to unsettle him more th

arching for somethi

the most out

you to p

"Plan... yo

ld. "You know my tastes better than anyone. You've always handled

Utterly, unbel

ed heirloom his fiancée had destroyed, the woman about to donate

tivity was

, cruel test. A way to hu