Mitchel

ampagne, danced on tables, and flirted with strangers, all in a desperate attempt

the lights flashed, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume

s, surrounded by a fawning entourage. She looked utt

welcome home party. The Morris family, now bending

e. A smirk played on her lips. She whispered something to her fri

m sneered, loud enough for me to hear.

et the memo? Charlton' s done wi

ite. The anger, simmering bene

ng. Still slumming it? I thought by now you'd have found another poor sap to latch onto.

shame, the humiliation, the memory of tha

ldn't cower. This ti

ss a comforting weight in my hand. "You think you've won, you conniving bitch?" I snar

sped, scattering like frightened birds. Giuliana's trium

" she shrieked

. I lunged, but just as I reached her, a hand

rlt

s cheek. He looked like he' d been through hell. His eyes, h

doing?" he demanded, his

nst his grip. "I'm reminding your precious Giuliana that so

arlton' s arm. "She's insane, Ch

mine. "You're making a spectacle o

Charlton. You and your conniving little girlfriend. You stripped me

iuliana. "Stay away from her, Kiara," he warned, his voice a l

my arm free, surprising him with my strength. My hand

L

s head snapped to the side, a crimson mark bl

were filled with a shock that quic

bling with disgust. "You lie, you manipulate, you use people.

t to talk about sick? You' re the one who can't

t else, Charlton? Everything we had? It was meaningless

less to me, Kiara." His words were a

Now let me go, before I make a bigger

? You think you know everything." His breath was hot against my skin. "But you're st

father? What does he

ture. A venture that could easily... disappear, if I don't get what I want. And what I want, for now, is you to

s done, you're free. You can go wherever you want. But if you cau

monster. He would use my father, my

rough the tense silence. Red lights flashed, and p

ously so cold, now had a frantic edge. He p

ed, pushing through

was gone, swallowed by the chaos, rus

owed by the blare of the alarm and the

ating. The air grew thick, making it hard to breathe.

ghts disoriented me. My head hit something hard, and a

room, the antiseptic smell burning my nostrils. My head th

e said, her voice soft. "Smoke inh

open. Charlton.

" I asked, my

r head. "Not yet.

pushing myself up despite th

nurse's protests falling on deaf ears. My body a

hen I arrived, the house, usually so quiet, was buzzing with ac

wn by the sound of voices from the living

atrically tearful, floated through the air. "Charlton s

pressed myself agains

concern, a tone he rarely used with me. "That Kiara,

resemblance to Giuliana, chimed in. "Don't worry, Jermaine. Giuliana is

reeled

man I vaguely recognized from society pages, was stroking Giuliana's h

satisfaction. "Giuliana will make a wonderful d

My mother's mai

swam. It c

d Charlton, of course. Such a charming young man. He' ll mak

of betrayal. Giuliana wasn't just Charlton's "true love." S

ly had a twisted

ead snapping up, saw me. His face, initially fl

ropping to a low, warning ton

rowing with a malicious glee. "Oh, look who

uliana, her mother's smug pronouncements – it

trembling finger at my father, "

ara, don't be ridiculous. You're ov

to her mother. The three of them,

grabbed the nearest object – a heavy c

ng crash, scattering shards

ith anguish and fury. "You just replac

w clenching. He took a step toward

rled. "Always causing trouble

My world had imploded. And I was going to