The loud, metallic clack of the deadbolt sliding int

ooth, freezing cobblestone floor. She crashed into a massive wooden wine rack, her shoulder

back sliding down the rough oak of

conces on the brick walls. The air was thick with the

at fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit. For a healthy person, it was a brisk chill. For Justine, whos

tiny, invisible needles piercing through the thin fabric

her arms around her legs, curling her body into the smalles

in the quiet room. Her muscles spasmed in uncontrollable, painfu

leaving her mind terrifyingly sharp. The cold was stripping away her i

cy-a career she had bled for-just to learn how to bake Carl's favorite French pastries. And when she finall

p her favorite medical textbooks. When she confronted him, Claire had stepped in, waving a ma

right up to Carl, giggling, and adjusted his bowtie. Carl hadn't stepped back. He had looked

t tear escaped the co

could reach her jaw, the freezing air of the cell

e, suffocating grief for the brilliant, ambitious woman she used

r fingers and toes lost all sensation. Her breathing grew shallow

to darken with the threat of unconscio

yellow light from the hallway sliced through th

. His hands were tucked into his pockets. His posture was relaxed, almost bored. He looked like a

d down at her curled, shivering form hidden i

er to crawl toward him, begging for forgiveness, p

still, her eyes closed, offering abs

raised his foot and used the polished toe of his leather shoe to n

ce echoing off the brick walls. "Your two ho

er eyes. Her vision was blurry from the fever. She could only

as so dry and swollen it felt like it was coated in sa

e crouched down, reached out, and g

her cheeks, forcing her head up to look at him

ace. There was no pity in his eyes,

s house works?" Carl asked, his v

a fit about Anabella today. You're insecure. You look at her, and you see everything you are not.

l optics my campaign managers insisted on three years ago, Anabella would be th

was the fina

attered the glass cage of "duty" and "marr

the absolute void of human decency. It was hilarious. It was genuinely hilari

ge of adrenaline floo

her jaw out of Carl's grip. As she pulled away, her fingernail caught

and. His eyes widened, and then they dar

e blocked out the light from the doorway

ctly at her face, "I will do far more than just let you cool off in the cellar. Do you und

reezing hands flat against

r legs shook so violently she almost collapsed again. But she locked her knees.

fire in her eyes was gon

absolute, chilling calmn