unprepared for my

ild joy and guilt. "Ava, I knew you'd

I turned my head, and hi

as c

tighter embrace. "Wait for me. I'll bring you bac

't res

had died the momen

ays, Leo treated me

ome on time, ate dinner with me, watche

e, purchased a painting I liked, even c

itchen, sauce stain

atching him, my mind driftin

y learning to cook for my birthday sur

ved was so salty

every

Ava, I want to coo

, a sharp thorn p

enting it like a prize. "Try it.

fork, twirling

eld none of the swee

e asked, watchi

k down, "does Isabel

mile

turned

spoke, his voice strain

alm. "I'm just curious if yo

ened. "She's

urse

e sky, radiant and untoucha

ground, easily tramp

t, he did

ight, my phone rang wi

s Isa

mimicking the pity of a victor. "Ava, ar

verything. He had to sacrifice you to protect m

with barely con

cold laugh a

ed the numbe

wanted, she treate

t just two days before A

iron

me to Alessandro's ca

whisk Isabella away,

was switched, he'd hold back out of

in, a hero rescuin

ng his love and keep

day, the sky

he mirror in m

dismissing ev

d, fastening a diamond

'm sorry for this. Remember, no matter what happens, d

the mirror, and the ha

ch, a picture

we were the

lthy scheming beneath

oice steady, "have

dy sti

he sighed. "Of cour

crumbled bef

nothing

nocked. "Sir, i

look, his eyes unre

ft without a tra

going to his

eaded to my