rk Avenue apartment swung open

ce and bloodshot eyes and pulled her in

lia murmured into Emma's

red. Emma buried her face in her friend's shoulder and wept. She cried unt

ma to the plush sofa, handed her a box of tissues, and po

o choke out the story. The strawb

"I told you that girl was poison. I told you Darius was

ragged. Before she could answer, he

en lit u

e button without a

in. This time, the caller I

erhaps the only person in that house who didn't lo

shed, laced with panic. "Di

he back of her neck. She checked the

dy ordered the kitchen to prepare a banquet. He said...

olish flicker of hope ignited in her chest. W

rom across the room, reading Em

s my parents. I ha

ushed open the front

ights were strung along the banister. A massive

g polished and handsome. He stepp

. I was out of li

ss. He pulled out a chair f

Under Darius's stern gaze, So

gave her felt like a lie. Every time he refill

dessert cou

rying a silver tray. She was beaming,

chirped, setting a plate down in front of h

n the roo

the delicate, p

o

fter ingesting rose extract. It was the trauma that

anniversary of h

curse. This was a venomous, calcu

nnocent gaze. But behind the wide eyes, Emma sa

sound came out, but the

to

nd, a cruel smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he malic

nal thread of hope, the tiny thread that had