a Mcn

ntly. I walked aimlessly, the cold water chilling me to the bone, but I felt nothing. The physical discomfort was a distant hum again

aloft, his dark suit clinging to his frame, damp in places. His eyes were unreadable, a comp

eing him through the window earlier, sitting in a private booth with Blake and Kinsley, their faces illuminated by the soft gl

th the scent of expensive liquor and cigar smoke.

glass. "The great Ariana Mcneil. Reduced to a drowned rat. How's Daddy d

by Dorian's power. He was a sycophant, but also a cruel brute, a man whose casual cruelty had set the stage for my

e lingering indecently on my body. "Mayb

ed down quickly under Dorian's cold, steady gaze. Dorian lit a ci

, a warning. "Remember your decorum." His tone was that o

lting under his stare. Blake, though visibly

sley Hudson, slender and fair, emerged from behind him, wrapping her arms around

ed, her voice saccharine sweet. "You look absolutely dre

rs, her voice laced wi

know how much my late father meant to him, and how he promised to look after me, right, darling?" She squeezed Dorian's arm, her h

om him. A bitter realization settled in. My past acts of rebellion, my attempts to fight back, to assert my

e, but Kinsley

This was my grandmother's. Dorian insists I keep it, but I feel you deserve it more, as Dorian's wife now,

the hard floor, shattering into several pieces. Kinsley shrieked, then crumpled to

ushed me and broke it! My grandmother's locket! It was so precious!" She looked up

ion. Dorian, as always, fell for it. His face hardene

his voice tender, full of concern

orian growled, his voice low and me

lat, empty of any emotion. "Should I kneel? Or perhaps offer my b

ve raged, screamed, fought. But that Ariana was long dead. This current version of me felt nothing.

tinued, my voice calm, almost detached. "I'

ently flung me away. I stumbled back, my head hitting the wall with

ded, his voice raw with

he carried her out. As he reached the door, Dorian paused. He looked back at me, and for the briefest moment, I saw something in hi

t message from Dorian. "Come home. We n

stroyed, after my mother cursed me to die? I knew what explanation meant. It meant another manipulation, another twist of the kni