en surge of defiance, she picked one up and snappe

tic a constant, humiliating reminder of her body' s betrayal. Then, wearing the broken shoes, she wal

stood Connor and Kassie, the golden couple, basking in the adoration of the city' s e

, looked up at Connor with a shy, loving gaze. He responded by placin

she hobbled across the marble floor, her broken shoes making a

shoes. How e

Such a shame, she

years, and not a single person in this room knew her name. Kassie had been he

stopped in front of Kassie. Taking a

he said, her voic

hear you," she said, her voice laced with mock fear.

ed. "Let everyone he

alive, her dignity stripped away layer by layer for everyone to

M SOR

oked at Connor, her eyes p

icker of something u

eness. "Of course, I forgive you, Aubrey. I j

s hand shot out, grabbing the back of her dress. At t

air. The back of her dress was ripped open, exposing her

hit the floor and burst, its content

trical gasp. "Oh, my

ognized it. "It' s a ur

. Kassie started to dry heave, clutching her stom

a mask of concern, gently rubbing her ba

s if she were carrying a plague. They pointed

ands, she tried to pull the torn dress together, to hide her shame. She struggled to he

ut he turned back to Kassie, his duty as a father-t

would stop for the disheveled, weeping woman in a

y? Do you need a rid

first she had heard in what felt like an eternity, opened the floodgates. She climb

ospital, she returned to the house. Conn

of concern in his voice. "What i

eturned. Maybe now he would list

m everything-about the kidney,

It was Kassie, her voice a weak

ell. The smell... it' s still in my n

tantly. "Don' t worry, Kas

traces of his earlier concern gone. H

his voice cold and distant. "The smell from your... device... is u

He hurried upstairs to Kassie

iliar, dull ache in her chest returning with a vengeance. For

d been