nson' s face. He tightened his

ogical necessity. It meant nothing.

make a solemn vow, his face

at. She couldn't bear to hear a

hope snapping. She would give him one more chance. One final c

d visibly relaxed. The tension left his shoulders

ir, his voice trembling with manufactured r

me the sun began to rise, he was gone agai

e walked downstairs, her bare feet silent on th

as slightly ajar. Alyssa stopped, h

robe hanging open, revealing the dark bruises and red marks that littered her skin.

passionate night. She tilted her body slightly, a shy ges

" Chandler whispered, her voice a mix o

r of something dark-desire-cross

his," he warned, his voice low.

m line was standing right outside the d

He whispered something Alyssa couldn't hear, and then his mouth move

agerly, her arms wra

he murmured against his lips, a pa

ranson replied, his voice muf

nd they fell back onto the bed to

world dissolved into a silent, white noise. Her body started to shake,

drugg

said would "help her relax." The man who swore he loved her, who claimed she was his b

erate declarations of love-they

dn't sleep. She sat by the window, watching the sun climb into

rn. He stood outside their bedroom doo

. A small one, of course. Just to give her a title, to legitimize the ch

blood filled her mouth. She squeezed her fists so tig

e nightstand. It was a c

lling to confirm. Your son, Leo, is responding wel

ally escaped and trace

e said, her voice hoarse. "Ev

urse,

' s treatment would be complete. She woul

uld lose the son he never knew he had.

ady a burgeoning cancer in their lives. She did