e solicitude. He fed me, read to me, described the world outside my window with

nstakingly, I explored my room by touch. The smooth wood of the nightstand, the co

ught from home. The small, sentimental trinkets I' d kept. I dropped them into the w

a? You seem restless." He' d find me fum

s," I' d say, my voice carefully

"I' m here for yo

ur families, all celebrating us." He was still planning his public spectacle, even if the details

y, Ethan," I' d whisper.

radiant and brave. Me, by your side. It will

ic. The gala would be my stage, too. Not for his pl

of midnight blue silk that felt alien against my skin. Diamon

" he murmured, his breath warm

, the clinking of glasses, the scent of expensive perfume – it was overwhelming. I felt Jake Miller'

o check on a few arrangements, my love. J

Elara. Just saw someone I need to speak to." Leaving me alo

f this ballroom. I' d attended countless K

hift in the air, the subtle currents of movement. I was h

ged into absolute, terrifying blackness. A collective ga

arkness of that alleyway, years ago, before Ethan "saved" me. The memory, ra

tructed composure shattered. I couldn' t breathe. The staged

everything, despite knowing his evil, a deeply ingrained part of me, the part he

th shadows. Figures. Men. Large, menacing, moving towards me. Thei

s gala plan. This was someth