ith a view of the entire city. It was my favorite place in the world. He and my adoptive brother, Ethan, had been the center of my univer

ffany a

mother and adopted me. I knew her existence was a complicated part of Richar

attered almo

nded me a small, velvet box. Inside was a delicate paintbrush, its handle inlaid with mo

whispered, my heart

' s beautiful," she said, her voice trembling. "It' s just... it r

hard' s face clouded with guilt. Ethan, who had

d her. He shot me a look, not of anger, but of frustrat

time." He took the box from my hands and set it as

in my chest. It was the first time, but it would not be the last. That w

rd was desperate. The solution came in the form of a proposal, a cruel echo of a bygone era. We would merge with our

n stood beside him, his jaw tight. "It' s the only way

was just a necessary sacrifice. After they left my room, I heard their heavy sighs in the hallway, s

ery. He was Richard' s younger brother, but he was nothing like him. D

as low and dangerous when I told him.

voice surprisingly steady. "It' s the last t

ety. "This isn' t your burden to bear, Chloe. You can walk aw

ss for what I was losing. He knew I wasn' t just losing my freedom; I was giving up the last bit of hope I ha

t the bottom, admiring a crystal vase. She saw me and smiled, a sweet, poisonous expression. "I

ip from her hands. It shattered on the marble floor. But her stumble was perfectly aimed. Her body pushed against mine, and I l

crash. Their eyes went straight to Tiffany, who w

She said I was taking he

as kneeling beside her instantly,

ld fury. "Chloe, what is wrong with you? You

it was nothing compared to the icy despair that washed over me. They didn' t even g

ood. I was done. I was done trying. This marria