droom door jolted me awake. I

aiting for an answer. His

phone?" he demanded, throw

around me. I hadn't even he

t," he snapped. "You n

m now," I said, my voic

yours is getting old. I'm giving you one last chance. Apologize to Cassie

ed only for his approval. I thought of all the things I'd given up for him-my friends, my ho

er be that

crack in my resolve. His tone softened slightly, a

was the root of the problem. "Cassie felt bad about it. She's throwing

n't a

going,"

m, his grip tigh

y there, I stared out the window, silent. There was no p

e-fake smiles, empty conversations, and a suffocating air of entitlement. I stood in a corner, a glass of cham

ite gardenias, were everywhere. The catering was from her favorite

nted her with a gift-a custom-made di

r eyes sparkling with faux tea

eived. He knew every detail about her-her favorite designer,

t was like watching a movie I had seen a thousand times. I kn

you don't love the person

topped. A man I didn't recognize strode into the ce

ning of this?" t

he announced, his voice booming. "A gift, from an

flourish, he u

s rained down on

pornographic pictures of Cassie. Her face was un

aw, piercing sound.

eople gasped, whispered, and s

rm around Cassie, shielding her from the prying eyes. "Anyone who has one of thos

rown the flyers. The guests were q

by the collar, his face a mas

e floor. "Wouldn't

voice deadly quiet. He nod

arm behind his back until a shar

in agony. "Okay,

n arm. Through gasps of pain, he looked aro

r. "It was her. Ellery Bea