A

in the mirror looked nothing

efully applied makeup. A pair of diamond earrings glittered against my ears while the navy silk gown

bride prepared

ged goods to the

them. I let out a bitter laugh, but the sound

ther had wanted everyone to witness my failure so nobody would question w

sounded

re. Are y

re a black gown, and her hair was pulled into a tight bun. Her

," I an

sperate, sending a wo

w tig

n't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me reac

t's go,"

rlooking beautifully maintained gardens. Expensive paintings decorated the walls, and the marble floor reflected the

kill me immediately, torture me first, or simply reject me and have his guards throw me into a dungeon? Th

would be easier than returning to Silverpine. At least nobody

, and Madam Alison pushed them open. The mome

million dollar severance package. If

ped wa

tiful? Look at her dress.

ed before I could ma

ather said he'll destroy my famil

my temple. Wha

t nobody seemed to be speaking. A woman sat on a chair with her hands folded neatly in her lap, while ano

and the hallway seemed to tilt beneath my feet. I pressed my palm against th

Hazel. Ju

s Mo

toward me with an

but my throat fel

nced. "Then stop h

hirty of them, all dressed in expensive gowns. Some sat quietly with their hands folded in their laps, while othe

urst open. A woman stumbled out, her makeup running down her cheeks an

.." she

rds stepped fo

legs could no longer support her. Her th

He looked at me

ach tig

ing tears from her face as

looked at me like a predat

crying, holding her h

d to Mother. I should

. My fingers pressed harder against my temples, and I

." I wh

s Mo

bbed my elbow, m

wrong wi

I ca

lf together.

ere two guards stood on either side. Both watched the waiting women with stern expres

s screamed

get past the guards, where would I go? Back to the father who had drugged me and hand

o

here to r

back, and lifted my chin. If this was where I was g

briefly before turning t

lowed

entered the r

we

enormous, decorated with dark wooden furniture and expensive ornaments. Thick cur

traight to the man seat

ucas Bl

intimidating even while sitting. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves folded to his e

eyes were

t of him. So this was the man who had sent six women to their deaths? The ma

held me in place. My heart began pounding, and I

her

from somewhere

ow long sh

hed my

r g

t be able to endure another wave of them. I lowere

s shifted

n eyes m

, everything

fr

times, wondering whether I had imagined it, but the silence remained. I could no longer hear

ning ritual, there was nothing ins

lders relaxed without me even realizing it,

at Luca

hing me, his expr

ferent from everyone else. I only knew that I could final

kill me was the only reason