6:The th

slept t

Grandma Linda's kitchen table. Seven days. That was all we had bef

hought o

airy lights. The way he had looked into my eyes and

her's bracelet a

ered into the darkness. "How can I save Gran

et offered

ing. I hurried to her bedside and helped

all right

t a little cough, sweet

coul

her died, Grandma had taken me into her arms and promised that I would never face the world a

let her los

minic

ty the next morning,

offee shop near the school. C

rembled as

m everything and ask him to hold me while I

d withdraw his offer. The demolition woul

dn't r

dma had nowhe

hop, staring through the glass windows. Dominic w

as a thick b

mach t

ep breath a

, smiling as though we were me

mal meeting." I sat opposite

cour

he envelope

confirming that the demolition of your grandmother's bakery

at the

lls. The documents could give Grandma time to fi

ed was sitting rig

o do was be

I whi

aned back.

his to me? You know

e faded

u've made that

n't you leav

e I wan

ded between u

want you,

he envelope, t

t change

I w

y, and the offer disappears. The money stays with me. The d

es bu

hoose between my grandm

ing you

is when both options are fair. You're

nt, he sai

leaned

on't care about your feelings, Elena. And your g

ghting to keep my

ted

nd the way he spoke as if my pain were

had placed me in a position where every po

know about th

t y

oing to keep

epends

sed m

ck behind the fairy lights, listening to him tell me how

way he had held m

be here fo

pped down

spered. "Give m

expression

the onl

ce with tremb

in

an eyebr

yself to l

e to your

t morning, Dominic loo

it cl

oat ti

your gi

re a lie. My heart belonged to Damian, and

other's baker

nd moved to the

we should make

nded hi

red a

way. Instead, I reached out and

is fingers

ision," h

d my ha

h me like y

ile re

to be my g

hreatening my family. Don'

his face. Then he picked up the e

e demolition has been paused, and your

nvelope with s

company. The second contained an official notice co

wice, afraid I had

eal?" I

ry w

e envelope ag

sed. The bakery was safe for now. Grandma wouldn't have t

came with a t

atched me

more

oked

your grandmother, or anyone else. If people discover the

od ab

to pretend th

retend today." He sm

lap that smil

up my bag and walk

le

ithout turn

saved your grand

ghtened aroun

hose words and make me feel

I l

-

ll the

and

the kitchen, wiping h

sweetheart? Why

up the

ion has been

tared

ha

the official notice. Her eyes moved across the pa

thank

arms, and I buried my f

o be all right

held me

ved our ho

o tell her

to keep the bakery standing. I wanted to tell her that every tear I had cried tha

orehead and thanked me, the

ar to destroy

t

-

noon, Dami

en, and my heart leaped befo

after the

el

beau

voice nearl

"You sounded worried in y

over my mouth, trying

m f

You've been act

streamed across the wooden counter, illuminating

n worried abou

to my father? I t

filled w

Please don't

y n

rother has bou

agreed to be

tell you the truth, I'll lose the

ighting with your family

was a

problems, Elena. You

ed my ey

es

et me h

can

hy

amian. Jus

ollowed was worse

y, he

ou. That's wh

lled down

you," I

ve yo

should have

e feel like the wors

onto a chair and cried quietly

ne vib

Dominic appeare

romised. Now remember our agreement. Tom

od ran

espond, another

forget that saving the bak

d at th

does th

ame almost

thing I want. And soon, he'll learn what

began t

minic's girlfriend to sav

at one terrible deci

essage, I realized someth

't offered m

wn me into

ar he intended to go to