L BURG

rier. His face was a thundercloud. "Are you really going to badger a child over a spilled kettle? Andrea alr

w spoke volumes. He clearly agreed with Jorden. Even Co

to protect me, to cherish me, now stood shou

ring something to her son. The boy mumbled a reluctant, barely a

hat familiar disappointment. Andrea, her expression full of genuine regret, stepped forward again. "Crystal,

ng through my veins. I was freezing, shivering des

or a response. I turned, stumbling towards the door, then slam

wind whipping around me, tearing at my hair and clothes.

s o

eating, barely sleeping. The pain in my arm was a du

promised, he came. He chewed on a dry le

y. "We leave tonight." He looked at my empty apartment, then

. "No, Dad," I replied, shak

circle. The other women, those who still had no partners and faced the possibility of the arranged marriage, wer

to my apartme

his eyes searching for me. "What did you tell your father t

late apartment. He paused, his eyes lingering on the few scattered b

al composure fractured, his eyes fixed on m

I didn't have the energy to fight