Ware

g the "Karis situation" while simultaneously trying to rationalize my "overreaction." He' d probably convince himself I

arm throbbed, a dull ache that mirrored the emptiness in my chest. My head pounded, a frantic

forting warmth. "You're all I have, Fae," he'd whisper, his voice rough with manufactured tenderness. "Don't ever leave me." Now, those memor

st a discarded toy, left broken in the corner. I had believed his promises of eternal loya

sorry, darling. Just a little accident, I'm sure. Glad Glenn

nt to twist the knife deeper. She wasn't just enj

still draped protectively around Glenn. She spoke of her "horrifying ordeal" and ho

blic, bought his charade hook, line, and sinker. The anger that had been simmering within me boiled over. I wasn't jus

g. "It was quite a night, Fae," he said, his voice laced with f

st nodded, my face blank. I was done reacting

y face, searching for a reaction. "Why don't we go o

to reassert his control, to make me

ice flat. "I'm tire

tory smile. "Alright, then. A quiet nigh

ting boyfriend. He thought he was so convincing. But I saw t

s back to me, his voice low and urgent. Then Karis arrived, her car pulling up t

sked, my voice devoid of cur

st needs some legal advice for her 'incident' yesterday. My grandfath

grandfather hated Karis. He wanted Glenn to marry someone of "e

g with sarcasm. "Family connectio

ion in his eyes. "Fae, are you alrig

rittle smile. "Just a little tired of

owards Karis. "Just a quick meeting." He gave

upposedly just "helping." I watched his car pul

the study. The door was ajar, and their word

e a sickly sweet caress. "Our littl

y. "My grandfather will be thrilled. An

fore. It wasn't just the betrayal; it was the sheer, unadulterated ev

onous words. I ran, blindly, through the manicured gardens, past the ornate fountain where my locket now lay forgotten. My arm, still throbbing from th

pain. I cried out, falling to the ground, my head hitting the stone path

. "Karis! Karis, are you okay?!" His priorities were clear, even in my uncons