t. The second thing was the muffled sound of voices outside my hospital room door, low and urgent.

man who was supposed to be my husband in one week. He had promised me the world, and for a while, I believed I

wisted with a disturbing kind of adoration for Noah, threw a cup of acid at me.

One was Liam, Noah' s manager. The other was Noah. My Noah. My heart, a stu

said, his voice a low murmur. "But the wedding is next week,

The burning on my face felt distant, replaced by a freezing

knew so well. It was the voice he used in boardrooms, the one that cut deals and

t just call it off. The sympathy is all on your side right

ll and confident, his hand probably smoothing down his perfect suit. "I intend to control

ense. More severe than I anticipated. The phra

hoked whisper. "Noah, what the hell a

feeding her obsession. She was easy to manipulate. I just needed something to take Ava out of the public eye

drip in my arm-it all felt like a coffin he was building ar

anted her disfigured? Why? F

uiet life, hidden away, my tragic, reclusive artist. The public will admire my loyalty. And I will be free to finally be wit

A child. He had a child with her. Every loving word he had ever spoken to me turned to ash in my memory. E

estroy my face, my identity, my future, so he could look like a hero while he di

es. But the physical pain was nothing. It was a dull ache compared to the sharp, absolu

ain even. I didn' t make a sound. Let them think I

It was cold and hard and clear. It wasn' t just pain. It

He wanted to turn me

a monster. And I would spend the r