draped possessively around her chair. I watched from the shadows

unced the final item, a

rand finale, the 'S

ght out on a velvet cushion. It glittered un

lying to her chest. "Oh,

s you," he murmured

in seconds. But Gavin simply sat there, a calm smile on his face. W

, his voice casual, as if

ilent. No one e

oneer cried. "To

her arms around Gavin's neck, kissing him

oice a low promise. "The wedding is next mo

round her neck. She preened, turning h

dn't b

ot the diamond, but the unique, h

my mother. After she died, he gave it to me, telling me to give it to

he chain to him. I told him he was my family now. He had tears in his eyes. He promised he

t to the woman who tried to kill me. He had taken my most precious me

I thought I was dying. I gripped th

fices, all the years of devotion-he had t

and walked out into the night. It had started to rain, a

the bone. I didn't know where I was going. I just needed to move

splashing a wave of muddy w

d up, f

heel. Heidi was in the passenger seat, her head on his

ppeared arou

racked my body, raw and ugly. I cried for the life I'd lost, for the lo

he stormy sky. "Why? Wh

so a

my feet numb, my mind a blank slate of pain. I found mysel

le. I told him everything. About Gavin's betrayal, about the lies, a

hen I woke, the sun was rising, and the rain had stopped. My phone

ere are you?

l me. I'm sorry I

All

He was waiting outside, pacing back and

been? I was out of my mind!" he c

away from

ng, struggling husband, but as the manipulative billi

t with him. He had found me there, too. He'd held me, his voice soft

t like a performance

gone. Maybe he had n