soft. The sky was clear, like the

dress, staring at the coffin

hugging her, handing her tissues. But ever

't cry.

eel loud," she muttered.

and on her back. She didn't

d coughing. It seemed small at first. Just tired, she had said

had whispered once, tears

hen she told him over the phone from jail, he cried

the hospital, holding her mum's cold ha

you're better," she had said

a little. "I wo

ey nev

e hardest. Her mum barely spo

Lucy bit her lip. The pain hel

pered. "I should've done m

ice cr

ix this. I'll get

. "You don't have to do ev

ll. She let June hold her, and this

ab

ep v

look

o

ng her arms around him

," he said gentl

arder. "Jos

atching. She didn't care

wanted he

had now... w

#

after the

er palms against the front desk.

is arms. "He doesn't see an

ay if I have to.

dinged, and

rc

into the lobby like he owned every breath of air

u

s the first time he saw her in person. Soft features, but fire in her eyes. Desperation m

lobby we

said, not botheri

llowed h

ed Johnson?" "What's she doing here?" "Begging, obvious

nded as the guar

et in one hand and a half-eaten granola bar in the oth

rcel muttered, holdin

r eyes flicking from the overs

what my father did. But please, don't punish him fo

d. "Anything? Like, scrubbing floors or... 'Ma

" Marcel

alright. I

cy in silence. "Y

ckly, her voic

marr

oom f

inked.

ablet. "What!You've

her. "Two years. You marry me. You

ck. "You're asking me to

lanning to mention the whole... 'you ar

d. "Lucy, wa

u're dragging a regular girl into this? What happens when sh

change only on full moons. I'll keep my

up. "What strategy? How

irked. "P

ena,You're unbelievable. I hop

l corrected. "C

d, still vis

cide," Marcel said. "Say no, a

ly above a whisper. "Why me?

o the billionaire whose money her dad stole.

g about this was romantic. B

aid quietly. "But n

, no one's dreaming of ca

hed to

d too. "Paper

," Marcel said, already looking at his

like she was sleepwalking. Her han

y stared, but

the moment her

ou've seen a ghos

whispered. "I agr

ho

rce

? The devil in a three-piece suit?!how did you

t have a

always have

voice cracking. "It's the

was a

muttered. "He's scary. R

aid softly. "I'l

#

ing, wondering if her boyfriend of three years was going to understand. When he

wrong

ked cu

hing," she said quietly.

wned.

o years. I'm doin

gone. "Wow. So now you're marryi

t say that.

it," he cut her off. "

st let me ex

back. "We're done

rned and w

heeks as she stood there, alone again this

lose anoth