e Bea

s of the chandelier's crash. The scattered images on her phone, explicitly displaying my most vulnerable moments, seared int

hing past me to Brylee' s side. He didn't even

e thick with anxiety as he knelt beside her, c

nd tearful, a masterclass in feigned victimhood. "She

, filled with a cold, accusatory f

barely a whisper, hoarse with disbeli

I saw it in his eyes,

denly menacing. "Are you really so desperate that you would attac

rything you've done to me? You told her... you told her everything about us, didn't you? My secrets,

t was quickly replaced by anger. "That's enough, Carlie

e, the lingering stench of Brylee's lies. "You think I can be embarrassed anymore, Gage?

out a soft moan. "My head hurts,

ng her up into his arms as if she were a fragile doll. He

ty guards, who instantly materialized. "And get he

nd my voice again, raw with a pain

cried out, my voice cracking. "After everythin

lly turned. He glanced over his

," he said, his voice devoid of any war

roup of burly men in black suits who had b

th a chilling indifference. "And make sure she doesn't leav

the roar of an engine as Brylee,

sn't sending me home;

aces impassive, their posture rigid. They

ing to pull away, but the

ying glances. Each step was a fresh wound, a reminder of my utter helplessness. The shard

. Once inside, they escorted me to my bedroom, the door clicking s

in a gilded cage that had

long and dark, filled with the

ained with wine, blood, and tears. The world outside was a blurry, indiffe

e of his face, devoid of l

d me to

me to ac

ve

rom the ashes of my shattere

reak. I would

d when I did, I wo