oria

What happened?" Maya's voice burs

oken and trembling. "Maya, they sold me off. My parents... they...th

o tell me you're getting married just because of some money your parents b

Either marry him or watch our family fall apart. They d

with this. Run. Come stay with me. We can fig

hen I pictured Mom and Dad, their exhaus

n't walk away. I just... I have to believe they d

said, voice gentler now. "But I get it. J

hearing her voice, her fierce loyalty, made it a little

arents that night. I couldn't. I lay there in bed staring at the ceiling, feelin

ext m

e in." Mom stepped into the room. Her face was bl

the edge of my bed. "Your father and I have decided we'll return th

sat up slowly, my heart h

mistake. We panicked. But we won't

alm settled in me. Maybe it was bravery. Or maybe i

just one year, right? One year to save our family. Then

gh. I won't run from this. I'll face it." She pulled me

and mine, no friends, no celebration. The whole thing f

s my penthouse couch. "I finally ended things with Victoria. Poor g

running her fingers across m

d. "Now Scott's got her. Let's see ho

one else. I thought I was over him. Thought I wanted th

" Rylan said, watching me too closely. "You left him. You ran

what you do to people. He's real." He smirked. "And ye

ling in my gown. White lace hugged my body, delicate and cold. A diamond necklac

painted the pews in rainbow light. Flowers lined

at the altar. His eyes met mine, unreadable. He off

ier than the last. When I reached him, his hand took mine. I

I didn't mean, of smiles I didn't feel. Whe

ife now, but not

ady to walk back down the aisle, a

Lights dimmed. People b

r. I turned, expecting Scott, but

, piercing, dangerous. "You don't belong to him," he w

ath hi

d into the crowd like a shadow. Sco

t. Not the dress, Not the kiss, not even the vows, and the