voice boomed from the top of the grand staircase. He des

nor replaced by a charming solicitude. Seraphina de

t amount of distress. "Ethan... he ran away. Julian found hi

ace, my disheveled appearance. "Miller. I h

ointment I remembered from my first life when he thought

n, boy. I thought you unde

ce raspy. "That's why I tried to

ebrow. "Or were you trying to make

art was elsewhere." I glanced at Julian, w

r. "Seraphina? Is this true? Your

licker of defiance in her eyes. "Yes,

"My feelings for Ethan... they were a youthfu

ose shared moments, the whispered confidences, the belief

r chin high. "If I am to marry, it will be Julian. Or I will not marry at a

werful Senator Vance seemed

kled with tension. I saw the calculation in his eyes, the weighing of

eary resignation. "Very well, Se

devoid of any previous warmth. "Then you, Mill

n' s side, her hand possessively o

over her shoulder, a

om this house that felt like a gilded cage. I sta

hina called out, her voice

, my back

Julian said, his tone mocking. "Aft

s approaching me, Julian a step be

"I know this must be difficult for you. Seeing Julian and me to

e chosen to t

sensitive. And he' s been so worried about me, especially a

her, incredulous. "Ser

dripping with contempt. "But we know your type, Miller. S

going to apologize to Seraph

gize? For what? For thei

't?" I asked,

ith that pathetic family of yours. Your parents, your little sister... it w

p. My family. Innocent. Loving. They woul

s, the fire... No. I could

mped. The fight

le floor. The humiliation burned, but the f

mbled, my eyes fixed on the floor.

gly sound. "Louder. And lo

aphina' s triumphant gaze

lips. "That' s better. Now, kiss my sho

. The guards wat

s was beyond humiliatio

y fam

the expensive leather of her shoe

thy. "Oh, Ethan. You look so pathetic. Bu

ed, malicious amusement. "Julian, darling, what shou

ure. "Well, since he' s so good at groveling, perhaps he can be our new footman.

rrible." She leaned in and kissed him, a l

were blazing. He strode over to me, grabbed

, Miller," he snarled, his face in

against the marble

my eyes. The world ti

ght laughter. "Don' t break him completely on the first

d I slumped forward, my fore

d at the edges

ir game. And I was trapped, a puppet whose strings they delighted in pulling. My

usness claimed me was Julian' s foot c