or her. The casual intimacy between them, the shared jokes, the easy laughter – it was all a performance for Ava' s benefit, a cruel show of wha

er favorite foods, things he' d "remembered" she loved from their childhood. He e

food. Each glance, each shared smile between Ethan and Chloe, was another twist o

s arm lightly around her waist. "To show her the winter ro

. Now, with everyone distracted, and a strange, desperate curiosity gnawing at her, Ava wheeled herself quietly down the hall.

d inside. The room was dark, smelling of old books an

ger, a young woman. Chloe dancing, Chloe laughing, Chloe at parties, Chloe with Ethan. There were letters, too, st

r-bound journal. Ethan' s private journ

ies were

eating. Must pretend to e

n I faked a cold. Watching her trudge through th

. Trying so hard. Just like her tramp mothe

e blood for me until she fainted. Pathetic fool. But

rted to spin. This wasn't just revenge against her mot

usea. The air in the

arkening when he saw her, then shifting to a look of

al. "You shouldn't be upsetting yourself." He knelt, his voice soft, coaxing. "Are

Don't touch me," she choked out, push

brow furrowed in feigned confusion.

a harsh, broken sound

e. "We'll get married. We can go to Europe, just like we planned.

er face. He still didn't get it. Or he didn't

pain from her injuries, or perhaps, ridiculously, jealousy over Chloe. He eventually helped her back to her room, his touch makin