er the lights, a deep, mesmerizing blue. My mother's lo

Ocean will start at five million d

paddle. "F

ent throug

he room. "Six million," Alexander's v

lde was beside him, her eyes wide with feigned surprise, though

I said immediatel

he countered, w

l. Alaric, Darrius, and Jefferey quietly lowered their paddles. T

rt pounding. This was a significa

He was enjoying this, the public humili

tbid me for a painting I desperately wanted, only to give

llion," I said,

aughed. "Fi

just doubled the price, an impossible sum meant to

n. The ha

nder Booth for fift

yes cold and victorious. He leaned down and whispered somet

n, their voices full of fake sympathy.

xander. I would not let him have this victory. I walked straight

ow. "Oh? And what

"A ten-million-dollar p

eaming with greed. But Alexander

has a price,

rice. But not one you can pay with money." He leaned in close, his voice a venomous whisper m

watching, whispering. My face burned. But the neckl

the unthinkable. I sank to my

ander's smile widened. He had won. He had

word tasting like ash in

staff to bring him the box. He took it, opened it, and held the beautiful neckl

pped the delicate chain. The priceless sapphir

destroyed it. He had destroyed my parents' mem

g inside

im across the face. The sound cra

ster!" I

? Azalea, how could you?" She was playing the victim, as always. But then she did

ander, I don't want to live!" she shrie

ly one story to a terrace below. A s

de, no!" He "saved" her, pulling her back from the ledge into his a

hissed, his voice full of me

d my arms, dragging me awa

private room at a hospital. Alexan

riggered a severe episode related to her rare heart condition. She needs a bloo

is was going. My blood t

e up weakly. "No... don't ask Azalea. It's my fault. I sho

t ordering me, not directly. He was cornering me. That evening, his PR team was already spinning the sto

I was a monster. If I agreed, I was submitting to his will.

voice shaking with

won this round. As the nurses prepped my arm

d, so only he could hear. "I curse you and

zalea. You should be honored to have

vision started to blur. As I slipped into unconsciousness, my mind rep

ce that was fi

e a prayer on my lips as the da