ldn't

ered in an instant. I clutched my stomach protectively, as though shielding my

tly, choking on the pain. "Y

d cruelly. Ma

h the room like a cruel chor

orever. The man I believed would stand by me even when my wo

then

ed across my c

had sla

k at another woma

nother woman's man? Bu

, adjusting his shirt. "She's alrea

stop, spilling like endless rain. My lungs heave

y

his have

crossed my mind-it would be b

ound my belly agai

b

who didn't ask

d to liv

s. I walked out without another look at them. Behind me, t

y k

all

me. I wasn't just betrayed by Mark and Bianca-

to close the door behind me, b

be your room," she sa

resistance, numb, as th

e pack grounds-worse than even a servant's quarters.

ed into t

Until I became a ghost of myself. I didn

rned in

t answer. I didn't care. The door creaked op

ase..." a v

es wi

am

s my

you. We all did. But you have to live. Please... leave this place. Go far away and start over. I've convinced

hollow, then ga

ing for me, Mam

d quickly

ng that makes it seem like I died. please mom,

a long pause, she nodded again. "Thi

ngements with a trusted doctor. As the core was plac

Of course he wasn

t began to slow. Machines beeped frantically. Nurs

was n

olfless Lun

reached the Alp

red. "No... that's not possible. She

tor only sh

wed at his insides. He didn't want me dead. He only wanted my

was t

black. Mark stood in silence, unreadable. But Bianca... she

doctor she'd bribed. They dug up the g

nject

ddenly

athed

s al

I coughed and gasped for air. M

y, baby...

re the doctor continued my treatme

. came the

lost t

cried. I broke

om me-my core, my place, my

t and scarred, a fire

vo

rn stronger. To

nd Bianca pain twic

hat they did. For my ba

an envelope of money. I hugged her one last

hen I

ded a bus heading... anywhere. As long a

ow what the

was

liar breeze on my face. A small restaurant sat by the roa

, ready to

d speak, a voice

at

fr

through the

y, I

anger, tall and intense,

hout a doubt, h

s Bia

carried