Philli

ning. I waited until their car disappeared down the

sheets were a tangled mess on the bed we once shared. An empty champagne bottle and two glasses sat

Jaxon, his arms wrapped around me in this very bed, whisperi

sounded more like a sob. Ho

My sheet music was gone, my keyboard covered in a thin layer of dust. In its place, on

me in his bed. He had

ing left for me here. As I stepped out onto the driveway, a sleek s

face. Krystal Gomez. A triumphant, vicious

up my leg. My head hit the ground, and the world spun. Through the haze, I saw h

ed beeping of machines. Hospital. Again. My head

ow and soothing. "It was an accident, Krystal. The doctor said

s chest. My own chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vise. I remembered him holding me just

ck against the pillows. A moment later, Jaxon was there, his

ked, his voice a frustrated sigh. "Why

face I had loved so much. It wa

the rage and the pain. "Who was t

cy to look away.

oncerned frown on her face. "Oh, you must be Alina. Jaxon talks about you all the time. He thinks of you like a li

ughed, a bitter, broken sound. "I want to pre

e in the room

t be ridiculous. It was an accident

d, my voice rising. "She accel

He turned to Krystal, his expression softening. "Yo

is arm around her waist. He

d stand by me against anyone. The reality of his betra

rite pastries from a bakery across town, the same ones he used to

," I said, pushi

this is a shock. The marriage... it's a business arrangement. A con

reign. "I love you, Alina. I've only ever

face, the pleading in his eyes. For a terrifying

n, his expression immediately softening into

toward the door. "Krystal isn't feeling

er cam

allowed to walk with crutches. I hobbled down the hallw

e door was open. He was sitting on the edge of the

made my stomach churn. "The doctor said we can

just need to rest and get stron

ust... the obstacle. The little sister