c swelled, a f

ime I, Sarah Miller, stood

efore, something had

"Southern Belle" upbringing kept a

egarded, expected

different

ic humiliations, ninety-eight n

side me, his eyes already scanning the

, an excuse, a new dra

iven, agai

it hap

ring or a sudd

previously hidden behind floral

ed through

er face streaked with artful te

amplified through the church's sound system. "I have to auctio

"Tiffany's Heartbreak Aucti

ent bid:

snapped towar

filled with a raw, protective fury

breathed, hi

with a bone marrow donation years ago,

el, his true love, ev

to me, but to

one. I nee

other gripped my arm,

ing?" I whispered, my v

't look

She saved my life. I

, fingers already fly

d towards the screen, as if Tif

eam's bid co

nd to her chest, eye

an musi

nd suffocating,

om me, towards the exit, phone pressed to his ear,

n't lo

his was it. Th

rity settl

w the

onymous bone

him after his rock-cli

d been now

t Southern Belle mas

ng but a vas

and scorn warring on the

mall clutch, pullin

olled to a number I hadn't dial

best friend. The tech

ne con

familiar, a stark contrast

ce low and clear. "Is o

e, then, "Always

"Ethan Carter, Charleston Heir, Bids $1 Million fo

was complete, pu

ething in me had i

t enduring.