na

I accepted the j

ther's old firm, something far away fr

f memories. I packed boxe

e me for our first anni

he marked me? Straight

ng family crest was engraved on the go

l. The fire was roaring, devouring the oa

melt. I just wat

he mirror above the mantle. I looked pale, dark circl

eave in the morning

d, possessed a cru

eta guard said, standing at my door. Hi

d, not looking up

, Lu

ride to the main estate was bumpy, and with every

ding to sleep, trying to

ours, I told myse

he wate

t was a gush of warm f

rough my numbness. It was to

e car,"

rearview mirror. "We

aid

a scream from my throat. The car swerved, then

n. Not by Damien, but b

abor!" some

tilting sideways. The pain was blinding

, grabbing a nurse's scrub

nto the hallway.

rridor. But he wasn't looking at

the wall, clutching he

she sobbed. "I thin

r, whispering words of

e pushing me yell

t mine for a fleeting second.

out a high-pitched wai

her. He scooped her up into hi

toria!" he bellowed, his voic

. A storage room hastily conv

el being thrown at the glass. I was alone. The pri

young intern and

sobbed, clutching t

e said, her voice shaki

he door. It r

moment of life and

illed. It killed the last tiny, stupid

ion ripped through me, my voic

, and I had no compass,