KA'

orbell

ays got on my nerves and made me wonder whethe

alled as I walke

ging co

, and my eyes widened

When did yo

, my father's hand co

ing to the side. I immediately tasted blood whe

ee down the stairs?" he thundered, his

cheek burning as shock p

asn'

as B

one who ha

had caused me to f

one bel

my f

my m

ent a painful ach

ne who-" I tried to exp

h, his hand lifted again

ed insti

ing, huh?

he tears threatening to fal

hem another reason

's voice cut t

father's, but it car

take for you to be ki

er, trying to

was disa

aid, folding my arms tightly across my chest as thou

of them

tightened

ed to

it would be

arted again, my

into the room bef

mmediately fil

ed, his tone calm as his gaze m

but a small part of me

time he wou

wouldn't automatica

would realize that I

s wr

ne of that

e had imagined him turning

lling th

nced at me brie

e, Anika. Don'

e like a punch

fr

drained fr

s listeni

my baby, yet no o

cratch was more important

way through my eyelids

whispered, my

and walked away, ignoring the v

my bedroom

g came fast

walls were clos

as

etely

ing as I dialed a number that had l

hone

ne felt

I might lose my mind

el

e was strange

nif

s your offer

childhood

I had rejected so I

maybe I had made

een when Liam told me I would

ut him off b

everything, he

or you," he said softly. "

ce was

ti

ave

tears and tightened

ed, struggling to

fell heavily as

days. Then co

ll silent f

uckle came fro

n, it made my

there," h

s. No more

all ended, staring at it as though it

was

eaking free from

en

s all I

inalize my divo

y loose end that still co

s until I

hem would eve

ut everything

arri

ess humi

ated me as though

spending the night with my own sister and sti

here w

ought she w

ee

oce

ag

new the

any of th

because I could s

se I knew exactly

bed, clutching the sheets

my eye

me more

se crying over

en

urvive se

m, I could hea

ably still tal

judg

ing me as t

ched m

them

ieve whateve

none of it woul

ld be

r

one b

oked

age fr

n't wait t

he screen for

eve I was actua

ere I

no going