oe'

nto my throat, and my half-lidded eyes struggled to focus on the figure standing in the doorway.

de

teady sway of his body revealed he was still drunk. My breath hitched. Was he here to apologize? For a brief,

e moved toward me-delibe

egs ached, a harsh reminder of what had happened the night before. My

grabbed my legs, yanking me toward him. I let out a

he words cutting through the silence of

, and I couldn't bring myself to answer. What was I supposed to say? That I did

s tightened, and his voice rose, a

ead of Clara?" he shouted, his wor

? He didn't want to hear the truth. Even if I tried to explain, he wouldn't believ

e bellowed, shakin

tammered, my voice ba

of my legs with a forceful shove, and I curled up, pulling

he growled, pacing back

that I never asked for this. But I bit my

," he spat, glaring at m

my entire life living in her shadow, being compared to her, being dismissed as the less-pretty, less

d quietly, my v

ooked at me, his eyes narr

his time. My voice cracked, but I forced mys

belief. "Then why the hell are you

o you think I had a choice?" I snapped, my voice rising in desperatio

moment, I thought I saw a flicker of doubt or regret

he muttered, tur

or this. I didn't want to take Clara's place. But no one a

"If I could leave, I would. But I can't. So sto

ing. Caden stood there, his back to me, his hands clenched in

ara," he demanded again, his voice

accusations, the constant comparison-it

voice filled with all the anger and

nstant, his expression darkened. He stormed

, his grip tightening around my t

s tears filled my eyes. He refused to believe the truth, ref

o the bed. I coughed, struggling to catch my

voice laced with venom. "Clar

hroat burned, and my chest ached, but the pain insid

me to take back my words. When I didn't, he turned on his he

ching my knees to my chest,

his? How had everything f

into the pillow. All I knew was that I felt more broken tha

hoping to find some solace in sleep. Tears streamed down my face, soaking the pillow beneath me.