yan Bennett? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My whole body

aid, my voice shaking but ste

ped closer. "Does this look like a joke to

enough to get married! But I have aspirationsI want to complete my ed

ke a spectator sitting on a screen. "Oh, poor little Alice," she sai

bubbling in my chest. "

ictoria snapped her fingers, and two m

rdered, her voice

a step backward, panic surging inside

keeping me fixed. My heart pounded as I stru

tone dripping with disdain. "You'll

ng my eyes. "Why are you doin

ke me laugh, Alice. You're nothing but a b

owering over me. His icy blue gaze fixed on mine, and for just a second, I

I said, my voice cracking.

Bennett before he died. And he didn't pay it back. She folded her arms, a

churned.

ia said, nodd

ou

out from beneath me. My father would never agree to this.

aking my head. "I can't. Th

how much trouble we're in because of your father

"You mean save yourself and

controlled. "You have two choices. You can either agree to this and come willingly, or I'll take t

room, desperate for someone to come to my aid. But Victoria and Clara o

my whole life ahead of me. Please...I wanna go to scho

u can study," he said. "I won't stop you from purs

posed to be a compromise? I did not know wheth

I cried, tears run

luntly. "Now stop crying and do wh

the papers laid out on the table. But Rya

d, voice firm but not harsh. "But if you refuse, your famil

b. This wasn't my fault. None of it was.

ays been so selfish," she said to Clara.

ked. "Typi

t them break me. I straightened my bac

in a soft tone, recogniz

, stepping

me. I rubbed my arms where their hands had

And don't try anything foolish. The

y heart pounding. The more I ascended the stairs, the m

t it lying down on the floor. The walls were bare, the furniture spar

now that I was on my own. How has my life come to this

m was sli

e. But no matter what