ce'

s. My eyes fluttered open just in time to see Vincent ste

ent out there unless he wanted priv

my breath caught in my throat. Through the open glass doors,

yourself... I won't be late, I promise." His tone softened,

s though invisible hands were squeezing the life o

mplete silence-walking away and leaving me standing there, looking

d against my heart. Th

I sat there, his wife, carrying his children,

-

ompany was struggling, money was scarce, and he sent me to stay with my mother. I had h

t her-my stepsister

e sneered. "Just because you're Mother's child

always got what she wanted. She made my life miserable, sending senior girls in school to bully me.

ge, supported me until I could stand on my own. But the real storm cam

red. I didn't blame them-they had already done so m

-

the present. He walked into the room, still on

at your favorite restaurant... t

hing in my b

my throat burning. My lips trembled with words I couldn't speak. The anno

ing. Just st

. I stood abruptly and walked past him, pushing open the balcony doors. Cold wind

, as if mocking me. As if there

-

open again. Vicent's

e. His voice was flat, devoid of the warmth I had just

ickly, but I knew he could still see the pal

ston family with your gho

ntrol

uld you say this to Lillian?" I a

lashed. "Don't you dare call h

erced me deep

An arrangement." My words trailed off into a bitter laugh. "I'm not worthy. I'm just the girl you m

ct like you were forced into it," Vicent s

ke a cry. "A stand-in. A contract. That's w

at's what it is. No feelings attached. Make

numb

gripped me. He didn't notice-didn't care. He just turned and walked awa

-

d under the covers. My tears, the ones I had b

s company. The shareholders and executives had pressured him

been vulnerable, desperate for money. I worked myself to exhau

age from NTX Company-Vicent's com

ted a résumé. How had

e wanted me to suffer, to live as someone's stand-i

-

ne roared from outside.

see his heartthrob. He had already

was steady, even though my heart felt shattered. "I won't be

o my gallery. My fingers hovere

ultra

n the screen. My

to my chest. "You're my all," I whispered to the picture, a shaky smile breaking thro