tand, vibrating against the d

to look to k

fi

AM, like clockwor

te tying his tie. Dante k

the life I was denied-evidenc

r, the photo

wrist, adorned with my

d: Come get it

vision blurred and my grip on th

have ig

om and packed my bags for the

only thing my mother left

a world where I was loved, and Sofi

in the main estate, my l

d. They knew the hierarchy, and th

chaise lounge, looking li

touching the bracelet with a

g, coming to beg at t

e steady despite the violent pounding

othing the front

uches belongs to me

let and held it danglin

," she

fr

are nothing, and I

e emeralds cat

ther's tired smile

y, I lowered mys

, tasting bile at th

," I wh

er eyes gleaming

op

ened h

let hit t

emeralds shattering echoed li

uins of my inheri

move, the heavy

closely by his parents,

to the floor, bursting

resh, angry bruise was forming-lik

creamed, pointing a t

aby! I tried to stop her

oken remains of my moth

within ten fee

d at Sofia,

e crying. He s

gaze flick

oken heirloom

saw the flash of rec

," Don Lore

hauled me

with Dante. "Dante, look at me. I did

looked

jaw clenched so hard I th

k

n, he ha

itting his wife was a monster, and tha

la said, her voice

. For harming

air leaving my lun

losed h

't step

speak in m

," he sa

e more than the

nctioned

ghed

my chest, a hyste

for believing that love matter

gged me out to

to the iron post,

he leather slicing the

h my shirt and bit into my

cre

ed Dante

and fourth lash fell, my

ook for hi

s take me, praying that when I woke