per

ity gala wasn't a requ

I had blocked his number. If I wanted the divorce to go smoothly, I h

olor that felt right. I was mou

ry overload of crystal chandeliers, o

He looked dashing, as alw

," he said, leaning

rply, so his lips gr

aw tightening. "Don't

elvet box fro

said. "Fo

ce glittered under the lights.

on," he

said quietly. "You kn

is voice low and cruel. "Wear the diamond

ar. Like a hous

ld metal around my nec

took the microphone, com

med, flashing his million-dollar smile. "She has be

, a statue of ice, forcing the corners of

t the back of the

ll over t

ess that screamed for attention-a violent

lding the hand

o

i it was painful. The sam

right up t

is voice carried clearly

hone dropped to his s

was a predatory,

projecting to the back rows. "Cody just couldn'

ed. A low buzz tha

a chubby fi

in?" the boy asked innocently. "Like

dead silent.

art s

word scraped out of my

nd Auntie Kasey were playing in the bedroom.

t me like a

"working oversea

ouse. He was in

e pool, his father was upst

t wasn't human. A rag

ged a

d. "You were there! You wer

icked. Not gui

child, he doesn't kn

age. She walked right up

Face it. You were a bad mo

nclasped the diamond

ore," she said. "It looks better

it around

aw

I wanted to rip it off her

back!" I

bed he

rong hands slamm

l

ved me

uch her!"

high heels slipped o

nee hit the stage wi

loded up

gasping, look

sey and Cody. His face was twis

He physically hurt me to protect the

Eli barked to securit

put his arm around Kasey and

k over her shoul

opped. The c

loor, broken, humili

. My fingers closed around t

wooden toy boat

l the sharp edges

ded me. The pain

Eli's retr

pped

pered into th

troyed m

ed the t

ing to burn