phone and walk

lood-red silk that clung to my body. The old Brooklyn loved past

ooklyn

of my life. Not my first life, bu

kson, Brett, and Andrew, all in perfectly tailored tuxedos. And Keira, of cou

id, his eyes widening.

nts felt like

me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. "Are you

ogant, so sur

ous curve of my lips. "Yo

of his Rolls-Royce for me, but

the back," she said with a little

oped her up into his arms, cradling h

I've got you

" Andrew explained to me, not meeti

rett and Andrew's car, my face a mask of ind

city, decorated with my favorite flowers, stargazer lilies. A towering champagne fountain glit

yes following me, buzzing with speculation. They were all her

ampagne fountain when Ke

er smile as sweet as poison. She held o

having no intenti

"Open it. I picked

s and then, with a flick of her

flew out of the box, s

, stumbling backward

shattered jade, lay the pieces

h. "Oh, Brooklyn! I know you didn't like

he ballroom tur

hers were there, surround

demanded, his eyes fixed

gift," Keira sobbed, "and she

fold. It was her word against mine, a

me. "You did this on purpose, didn't you? You ju

ey didn't even ask for my side of

I said, my voice

ed. "It's always something with y

e on," Andrew sighed, as if I w

loved more than life itself. They saw me as a villain

my voice gaining strength.

es. You love me, Brooklyn. You've always loved me. Just admi

ance was

g is not you," I said, t

t Brett and Andrew, who were trying to coax m

away from me. Their

erous shade of red. He grabb

nd furious. "If you won't do this th

cruel, terrify

ing me the

gasp went thr

on the boys when they were young and disobedient. It w

years, looked horrified. "Mr. Jackson, sir, it's Ms.

he whip from the butler's trembling hands. "

the whip held men

ipping with condescension. "And soon, I'll be y

sed th

yes shut, braci

acked again

breath. I fell to my knees, the silk of my d

de of crimson. I had never been hit in my lif

disobedient dog

nd fury streame

spat through

d the wh

!" a voice called ou

paused in

p, my visi

s walking into

imposing in a perfectly cut d

sav

leaped in

ed, momentar

the floor, my back screaming in protest, and

feeling a sense of safet

irectly at the shocked crowd, at

the announcement," I said, my v

t and took G

oose my husband. I choos