later that night. He was dru

it slammed against the wall. "You did this! You

had nothing to do with the guest

her private diary, filled with her thoughts, her grief for Liam, her hopes for a future witho

aving it in her face. "You

on we can be together.'" He read aloud, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Who is L,

desecrating her most private

me!" she cried, lun

h, so it is a lover! And here I was, thinking you were just cold

able today, L, but I do it for Lily. And for the day I can fi

me? My middle name is Lawrence! You've been writing about your secret, unrequited lov

ace. "It's not you! It's Liam! My fiancé! The ma

thetic fantasies? You think I'm going to believe that? You're obsessed with me, Ava. Th

by alcohol and his own raging

ethed. "You need to

he room, down the grand staircase, throug

tumbling to keep up. "You're w

He fumbled with a key, then threw the door open, revealing a dark, damp storage cellar. The air was cold,

r inside. "Maybe a night in the cold and dark will

he heavy bolt sliding into

, her voice hoarse. "Et

reating footsteps and the

ad torn pages from her journal, her precious word

r the torn scraps, tears blurring her vi

nd don't think I've forgotten about that mutt of yours, Bu

erced through Ava's despai

hunder rattling the very foundations of the house. It was the longest night of her life. She must have

. Chloe Carter stood silhouetted in

, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Or rather,