way the last remnants of my foolish heart. I put the dress I was holding on a nearby

been holding back finally broke free, wracking my body in great, silent waves. He had taken our e

ther's music box and leave th

back towards the gala being held in the hotel's grand

hen a hand shot out and slapped me hard across th

of fury. "You dare show your face here? You th

silent, their eyes turnin

said, my cheek stinging. "I'm

you've been meeting him in secret! You're a disgusting, gold-dig

t, her eyes wild. "I'll ha

turned to leave, to escape this public humiliation, but

from me?" I asked,

to get on your knees," she said, her voice dropping to a theatrical w

was so profound, so utterly deba

my voice fir

u w

n, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist. His eyes were cold, and there

e commanded h

I struggled, my heart pounding with terror a

L

harder this time. "Ap

blood in my mouth. My pride

L

My he

not to me, but to Evelin. He gently t

up. Was this a

e you feeling sorr

ckles. "Of course not, my love. Her face isn't worth as much as yo

mach. The air rushed out of my lungs in a pained gasp. I doubled ov

ize. Through the haze of

, he reached into his pocket and pulled out th

g it in front of my face. "Apologiz

hispered, my voice raw wi

st sm

ldn't break. We couldn't afford a doctor. So I took the music box, my most precious

bought it. Not as a kind gesture, but as a tool. A weapon

I collapsed onto the floor,

hroat. "I'm sorry for saving you. I'm sorry for

ed Bernard's face. He started to say something,

ee. She ran to the edge of the ballroom, where a large decorative displa

ght. It arced through the air and lande

ged my hands into the cacti, not even feeling the thorn

er finds it and smashes it for

behind. I fell face-first into the cacti, th

ked me in the ribs. I curled my body around it, trying to protect it, b

ed the box f

ening crunch, they sm

oed in the su

intered wood and sh

ce of my fat

the last piec

. I wish I had let him die