didn't call the police. I didn't go

ss to my home. It was torn and dirtied from the chao

dark, silent

two days. No calls

g strangely energetic. It was the

the ruined white dress. I did my makeup carefully, covering t

as Cole. His voice was co

m at two p.m. Don't be late."

oice. This was it.

river to ch

reporters was waiting. The flashes of t

arm in a bruising grip. He dragged me

round me. On a large screen behind the sta

a microphone

. "Tell them you bullied her because you were jealous. Tell them you accept

ur lives, into our family, while I was still his

aste fille

d, my voice surprisingly clear. "Her hus

ou don't do this, I will personally call the hospital and cancel the

caped my lips. He flinched, a

e," he hi

I looked out at the sea of expectant faces, and my eyes landed on K

h the silent room. "I have done nothing wrong. Th

e went pal

Solomon. It was helping a snake named Karma Smith. She is the reason my father is d

eporters scrambled,

hed towards the stage. "Ele

put my hands up

ch me. She veered at the last second, slamming her

red spread acros

amed, her eyes wide

trike. He shoved me aside, se

of the blow snapped my head

once felt was gone, replaced by a vast, empty vo

this with your l

to his arms and ran

d, grabbing me and forcing me into a car. They drov

open window. "My baby... my poor baby... it's

tal entrance, his face a gr

e, his eyes as cold

d. "Kneel and atone

numb. I cou

my shoulders and forced me t

y head back and looked up at the g