ight called th

. They' re offering you the scholarship. A late acceptance, due to a

A worl

the sterile silence

sed and battered,

it, Professor," she ma

ded surprised. "Ava, this is a

her. The medical bill

cage had

ft she' d bought for Ethan. A vintage photography book sh

rs traced

olve, she walked to the tr

bolic act of

make her

l turmoil to

as she was preparing to go t

ush sofa, a cold sweat br

It was Ethan'

o pick you up. There' s a charit

as polite,

ak to argue, to

she said, the word

up appearances

lur of diamonds

steady, clung to

ation from a group of women nearb

' s latest... proj

probably thinks

th Victoria Hayes for years. They were engaged, you know.

ion. A pretty face to keep him warm

hter was l

face

stood the

st self. She was a tool. A pawn in Ethan' s long

posed affection – it was all a performance, not fo

rate urge to fle

leave, a hand cla

tor

g so soon, Ava? The night is you

pite her weak resist

g court, char

roach. His smil

ng, as if he hadn' t abandoned her the previous day, as

roup, his arm lightl

ive, publ

ria standing beside him, a

urmoil inside, the n

She would play h

settled over her. This was he