, clutching his arm. "Oh, Ethan, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset her. I

hardening. "Chloe, what has gotten into you? Bella was just showing y

ing her. The absurdity of

hing, Ethan. I worked my fingers to the bone, practicing until they bled, just for a chance at a b

ep toward me, his face a thunderous mask of anger. "You're h

t into the room. Her sharp eyes took in the scene in an instant: the b

e?" she demanded, her

. Hayes," she sobbed, "I don't know what happened. I was just so happy about the Philharm

'd always had for me. She never thought I was good enough for her son, my

a violent, ungrateful little shrew. And now you're a cripple on top of it. What good are you to my s

n, her cruelty stripping away the last of my dignity. Ethan said nothing. He just stood there,