id, her voice trembling w

he stumbled back a step, cradling her wrist. A vivid red

lenched. "Apologize. Right now. O

r mouth as fake sobs shook her shoulders. Kiana, frightened by

d, pointing at Elinor.

heeks, her strong lungs, her intact, functioning body.

ether inside Elinor, snapping some

ed through the lobby, causing the onlookers to step back in alarm

thrown off by th

hidden by her hair. A smirk played on he

's cheek from the hospital slap days ago, fading but

e distance between them in a flash

ng out like

by. She fell backward onto the sofa, her hand fly

wide, his brain struggling to

the far end of the sofa, hid

he pivoted, turning h

took a half-step back, but his pride caught hi

ac

gth she possessed. The force of the blow snapped his head to the side

ent. Even the backgroun

er. A thin line of blood seeped from the cor

at the collar, hauling her up onto her toes. "Are you

, her own gaze steady and full of disgust. "Derick Gra

collar. The certainty in her voice see

ed out the wrinkled fabric, her movements deliberate and calm. She looked ove

said coldly. "Your

he fear in her eye

to Derick. "My lawy

of metal inside. She pulled out her wedding ring-a large, flawless

r Derick to see,

p tink. It spun in a circle, the diamond catching

ook back. She kept her spine straight, her shoulders back, even th

ot where the ring had landed, the sound of it hittin