the finality they represented. Liam had held my hand, his grip firm and warm. "Don't be scared, Eva," he'd whispered. "It's just

f my future, a high-tech coffin,

lied, my heart pounding. "For a

at looks like a coffin? Is this another one of your desperat

my breath. He thought this was som

s so dramatic." She turned to me, her smile not reaching her eyes. "It's a very... unique co

was just another one of my strange, morbid projects

nd started gathering the scattered papers, my hands

he brochure and the design sketches into the flames. They curled, blackened, and

rning his attention back to Chloe. I escaped upstairs

ed into the cold fireplace and retrieved the half-burnt folder. The main documents were still intact. I clu

glass of water and heard soft noises coming from the living ro

with a passion I had never seen from him. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, her l

had a fiancée. This was normal. It was my love for him that was wrong, that was twisted and unnatural. He w

felt like swa

he garden. She was carrying a cup

t it?" she said, taking a s

st n

h false sympathy. "He thinks you're not handling our engagement well.

I said, my

g to a childhood fantasy. You have to understand, Eva. You're just a girl

rom her poisonous words. "I don't

path. "You and your mother are so much alike. Both so... unstable. She was a madwoman who

it burned away all my fear and restraint. "D

eyes. "The 'mad artist' who killed herself because she couldn't pai

I just reacted. I lunged forward and slappe

e, before it twisted into a mask of triumph. I

shed over me. I

dge of the patio, his face

e shaking with rage. "What