UR

ny soul and without a word he wal

Raymond's cold voice echoed from up

ear, Raymond." I said my vo

upstairs, sharp and cold.

the stairs, landing at my feet with a thud. It was coa

g in my stomach. This was her

ssed," s

aking. This was my reality-

fingers trembling, my heart pounding

lly emerged. "You look gorgeous," he said, but his eyes wer

hen I looked at Samantha, my heart sank. She was wearing my dress. T

h. Anything to escape this

ter, flashing cameras, and smiles, but I was invisible-just a sha

ing me stumbling into a stranger's arms. I gasped, barely catchin

low, warm with concern. He extended a hand, he

hoping to find Raymond or Samantha, but they were gone. They had

ot sure what I was apologizing for. I barely

mething. "You look so hurt," he said softly, his voice carrying an undeniable

ds. No one had ever looked at me lik

mile that didn't reach my eyes. I didn't w

he took a step back, his eyes scanning the crowd. "You shouldn't be

pull to this man, to someone who saw through the mask I wore. "I don't ne

ame?" he asked

I didn't know why I was telling him. Maybe because I

peated, testing the name on his to

" I said, I was already g

ng it off and tossing it into the backseat,

quietly become my only solace, didn't say a word. His hands were steady on

?" He asked, his vo

," I said suddenly, my v

just nodded, taking

ing as my head spun in a dizzying rush. He pai

without hesitation, I was already drun

but I wasn't listening. I pulled him close to m

hen kissed me, I gave myself to him not because I

nted through the curtains, doing nothing for the ache in my head. My phone b

dline made my

SS SAMANTHA, PROPOSAL SEEN AT

Samantha smile on the screen,

room

but his voice cut through

ed," he said,

," I said, almost defiantly. I felt the weight of the ring o

d, as if the words ne

aring the mask, but his gaze didn't waver. It didn't soften either. There was

, a mix of curiosity and c

looking at the floor. His hands were still clasped behi

sk off?" I said suddenly, m

oned toward the door. "I'll have my drive

eaded for the door. But just befo

ain, but my voice felt weaker this

ned, but he sa

s walking away from something important. The ride home

my luggage sitting outside

me was worse. "Whore," he had called me. Samantha had repeated it, her words lace

here to go." I said,

living corpse," he said, his words cutting deeper than they should have. "But fine, I w

I stood tall. "Accepted," I w