in the face-harsh, u

essly in Lara's mind, piercing through her

nken state rendering him oblivious to the weight of what he had just said. Yet, his voic

her room, slamming the door behind her. As soon as the lock clicked, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto

r. And another. Until the quiet of the room w

ssed them against her heart, as if she c

n so blind.

hers. She had held on, believing-hoping-that if she just loved L

een staring her in

nning, Lucas had l

r. Nev

n too much of a

rgave her for agreeing to this marriage? Why

i

and over in Lara's mi

er. The woman

t crashed over Lara,

ain that woman must have felt when she lost Lucas to an arranged marriage. How devastat

ne?" she choked out, her v

vile. D

ain in someone e

away the future Riah and Lucas were meant to have. She h

hy Lucas couldn't love her-because

ing sob esca

t. She had rui

s life, his futur

is mess, desperately clutching onto some

took over. All she knew was that she had curled into herself, drowning in her heartbreak,

down, s

was

.

ext M

er alarm clock pulled L

on the floor. Her head throbbed, her eyes burned,

just lay there, staring

idn't want to face another day o

ing, last night's even

s voice.

nd her chest, makin

attempt to block out the memories. But it was useless. The words replayed in her mi

know what t

or three long years, believing she

e even fig

d who loved

hat was never he

at was never

rless laugh es

les, all her sacrifices, if in the e

g to fix something that w

he been s

this marriage, knowing

d Lucas' happiness, but s

nto the sheets, gr

finally end this marriage and give L

e would final

p living like this-chasing after som

g to do? If she truly loved Luc

a sharp pang th

y. Letting him go. Watching him

it h

ch she could

shut as fresh tears sp

o

herself that letting go was the right t

uldn't

dn't let

as she wiped her tears, even t

st be

lds onto a man who wi

e bring herself

w it wa

he was bei

couldn't

life without Lucas. S

voice trembling. "Please... even

her, but she couldn'

Riah. She

ldn't give

woul

her the villai

her a selfish,

still

still lega

held that title, sh

to belie

ad to

ps as she wiped away her t

fix this

ha

this wasn

nly setting hersel

didn't

she lo

more than she

ch it hurt... she wa

t

t