ia B

ars streamed down my cheeks, but the slap wasn't what hurt the most. What hurt was t

ng years. I had given him my

was how

myself all this time? Or had he been

trembling with

ophi

ad only just realized what he had d

doing?" I snapped before

ainfully. I looked at him with disbelief and a

sorry," he

orting hand on his ass. The gesture irr

had actually conside

had apologiz

sed never to hurt me

ile I stood there broken? No. The o

tic," he muttered. "Why is she a

am at him. But the memory of Ethan's hand striking my

most was how no

hey embarrassed? Why were they acting a

u had to find out th

e man I had wanted to spend the res

e me?" I as

Ethan lowered his ga

thing!" I

shaking. Still, h

said,"It's

terly. Of cou

was gay, they pressured

care? Would his explanation change what I had

ok my

t do

phi

N

ice c

Stop blaming your family. Th

oke, the angr

pounded beh

ved marrying you would fix me," he admitted qu

per into my chest. I looked at him. He w

hoosing him. The realization

was supposed to

have told peo

another man? The questions raced through my

g my menstrual cramps. The way he skipped meals because he worried about me

e? Had every moment be

aid. "I'm sorry.

are you still begging her?" he asked

im. He wasn

rectly at the man I ha

er man spoke. I swallowed hard. "

xpression

really l

ilence. My heart pounded.

s eyes. In the way he

smirked. "What

I waited. And waited. But he said nothing. Not a sin

" Ethan said qui

bitterly.

who had destroyed

" The words

expected. Hi

interested in

Then I removed the watch he had bought for me. The br

dropped them o

each item I discarded, another piece of our

usiness deal?" Et

oment, confusion crossed my face. The

" I grabbed the door handle. "And

ng Ethan and his boyfriend alone. Leaving behind five yea

ealized something terrifying. I had ab