ph

weddi

dding had arrived like a

ned suffocatingly quiet and filled with unease and tension. Even my mot

She barely spoke, at

e from going to work in the name of the wed

gh to dig up every dirt under Ricci Russo's sleeves when he

Not even once to say hello. No meetings. No introducti

er her face. She clutched my hand tightly, her lips pa

mumbled, pulling her int

!" My mother called up, but her fac

n my stepfather's car, while Sara would be driven in a s

k into the back seat. I walked with her, a

ophia," she choked out, wiping

fusion as the car pul

"She's been saying that since yesterda

I remained silent. Before I could say

still feeling uneasy abo

ay to avoid traffic,

A loud, deaf

art s

ently across the road. The tires

I sc

ashing through the wooden railin

I screamed simultaneously.

ater, and I could do nothing but wat

*

a scream, but my stepfather's

n of my mother. She looked more confused t

r, a sound that should have been comfort

even more unreal. At least no reporters were here to know what was

wrong!" I screamed, sh

d towards the lake. Uncertainty swirled in t

ped closer to the lake, my

ater. Nothing. Just the rippling waves s

cross the surface as rescue d

hout news was another twist of the knife in my gu

he jeep. Bloodi

myself. A sickening wave of nausea hit me at this point. If

ed, and it seemed lik

haking his head. "We found the car

to his knees. His choked s

p looking! She has t

ake gave nothing back. Then, a

arch for now. We'll resume by a

he had ever worked for. His facial expression turned pale,

e gone. You can't tell me s

officer's voice was gentle but firm. He

led. I turned to my

, right?" I sobbed, taking her hands in mine

er, my stepfather moved toward me. His eyes

reep into my soul. His grip on my arm

know exactly what we do now.

ix what?" I whispered, squirming to rele

ks it can play a fast one on me, but I won'

t as the word escap

I won't have him backing out of the deal. I will

"Are you crazy?! I have a li

L

to the side. The sting burned w

me," he snarled. "Either you do this, or

heart breaking in ways I didn't kn

her lips pressed together. She didn't dare speak a word t

At this point, I had

e, my voice defeated.

read across his fac