two weeks in a snow globe. Perfect from the

ind meaning in the silence. But I couldn't shake the weigh

e weeks since I'd seen my mother. No matter how lavish my surrou

to se

for a few hours,"

like me, Mrs. Blackwood, wanted to visit a rundown government hos

door, mumbling something under his

d wall, every broken chair, every stain in the corners with glaring clarity. The air still reeked of clean

an I ever would under a roof filled w

lost in thought that I didn't notice the

SLA

jum

and

he dropped the mop and sprinted

gasped, yanking me into a tight hug

head to toe. My outfit, my hair

andice,

lexander freaki

fro

ing curious glances from nearby nurses.

edia! Girl, are you insane? How dare you n

e, can we not shout

a full-blown movie scene. "You got married and didn't say a damn word! You were just here

.. comp

you at the hospital and fall madly in love? Did he rescue you from an am

burned. "

ssment as a family of three

. "Wait.... you a

her to the side. "Listen, it's not what you think, oka

mile faltered.

s... it's a con

I'd grown two heads. "A

of my Chanel purse, ref

e not j

stunned silence, then

my shoes, then tow

ed. "Because I didn't

softened instant

And he... he offered everything in

en us before she finally exh

That's

kn

?" she ask

on't

"You could've told me. Even just to scream about

n't kno

t I do know, I'm not shutting up about it.

a small smi

n nudged me toward the door. "Go see her. She

ard and steppe

whirr of oxygen tubes... it all

. Still. As if she wasn't really there. Just a shell,

much I neede

red, pulling a chair

hand...,it felt c

on't have to worry anymore.

back, trying to blink away

this. But I couldn't lose you. I couldn't let you

it m

s becoming someo

earing inside a cold man

on your feet. I promise. J

dy rise and fall of her chest, letting the soft b

I kissed her forehead gently

l smirk on her face. Her blue uniform cast a strange glow on her pale skin,

n't believe

ther

r. Billionaire he better not mess

e first time in da

d into the seat, I caught the driver's reflection in the

de me

een terrified for my saf

this was where I actual

ed inside the mansion,

ne hand as I climbed the stairs, my body

room when a deep, sha

e hell hav

ed and

earing a dark coat. His expression was unread

other," I stammered, stil

dn't think t

permission," I snapped be

my roof. You wear my name. I deserve

ust a hosp

t it was. Get dres

m, confused. "L

inn

kind of

ook. "You'll find out when

ed away, leaving my heart pounding

wrong with

And I was no closer to understa

ing beneath that icy tone told me t

p down,

sn't