e luxury of wondering why h

, the past crashed over her like a wave.

other party. A luxurious

marry, had hosted it in honor of their "upcoming union." Eve

lso her

trapped in a glass jar. Beautiful

her throat felt more like a collar. The champagne tasted like poison

pt saying s

didn't f

elt d

what she wanted. He only cared

'd had

ghter and empty toasts, sh

e mansion, clutching her purse, escap

son she thought could

. Her almost

ne more slap w

ached his house,

tairs, the rhythmic thud, the moa

cold. Maybe.... maybe

epped

heard h

God. I was never s

y blink

o

d till I found

No

hest squeezed so tight she

then came the voice tha

eep up with that

ar

fr

but close enough

as it reached for the doo

d the moment she s

. Clothes everywhere. Skin, swea

e upon se

Clara screamed, scram

?! What t

l

echoed. She was trembling, breathing hard

wrong with you?" R

s it. The f

yan's face. This time ev

reaking. "After everything I gave up for y

ght. Her mascara stung her

u promised me?!" she scre

or her birthday. She had hoped... may

t

was

liat

ran. Out of the hous

ement as her shoes came o

the tears blurred her path. Not even when her lungs

d to disappear

without ex

ht with

hole. The neon lights,

p. At a hotel bar and ordered

, then another.

ard the restroom to ease her

, she pushed the wrong door op

s dim

rk-haired, half-drunk, exp

ryce Har

e her... he

ed into moans and heat.

ng to forget thems

ight b

with a hollow chest, a raging headache,

nnoticed, shame sin

elp, she later

ccounts. His men were scouring the city already,

e didn

more than what came

as pr

, years

uch she couldn't forget, w

ouldn't believe he he was seein

e couldn't

he present, his gaze so intense it burned. "You think I woul

parted, but no

retending you don't remember? Or should I remind you right here and right

, hands trembling

peak, neither

she did

mbered e

scarie

art of her wanted

ctrifyin

his face loomed over hers, his hot breath on her