Ware

my ribs. I tried to project an air of casual nonchalance, but

n that outfit? And with that bag?" He gestured to the small duffe

solve hardening my spine. "I was just going to gra

, guilt perhaps, crossed his face, quickly replaced by his usual charming facade. He

inking about what I said. About your music. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you

carrot, to pull me back into his orbit. But the damage was done. I saw through his act. He

screen, and his expression tightened. "It's my grandfather

es, as if expecting me to understand, to

my voice flat.

eft, his footsteps echoing in the silent hallway. I watched him go,

a cab, giving the driver the coordinates of the private airfield

e, a predatory smile on her face, watching me go. Our eyes met,

ripping with malice. "Running away again? Some t

my carefully constructed facade. She knew about m

s glittering with triumph. "You think you can just waltz out of here, leaving Glenn to pick up yo

opportunist. You'll never be enough for him. He'll

Fae," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "you have no i

the distance, her figure a dark, ominous silhouette against the setting sun. Her words,

urn." He had filled the mansion with flowers, candles, and my favorite gourmet dishes. He

chimed. Glenn, annoyed, went to answer it. Karis stood th

ear to be alone tonight. My apartment still feels so... violated." She glanced

ftened. "Karis, darling, come in. Of

just moments before. I watched him, my heart a frozen block of ice. His hypocrisy was astounding. He ha

rite. He had always known. He had always used them as a symbol of his affection, his d

d, his voice soft, almost

oice flat. "Or are they just ano

Fae, what are you talking about? I

my chair back. "Don't c

table, the expensive food, the carefully arra

turning to leave. "You two

hed voices, their anxious whispers, as I retreated to my room. He was probably

hed in the soft glow of the chandeliers. He held her close, his head resting on her shoulder

perfect couple, so in love. "Mr. Christensen is so devoted," the housekeepe

sion, the carefully constructed performance. They didn't se

"You know, Glenn, she really is just a foster kid. A charity case

ping with contempt. I presse

e sound. "She was useful, Karis.

ontempt, sliced through me like a razor. I was a charity case. A broke

hroat. I wanted to smash something, to break everythin

he's just being silly." He was trying to calm me, to gaslight me, even when he th

spered, my voice hoarse. "S

ced concern. "Karis didn't mean anything by it. She's just a

captive in his web of lies. But I was done.

und shattering the fragile peace. He an

e rising in panic. "Karis? Kid

, her eyes wide with fear, a single tear rolling down her cheek. But there was a flick

what are we going to do? He's a mons

A sudden, horrifying realization dawned on me

to save her." He looked at me, his gaze cold, resolute.

empt to control me. But I was done with his com