embossed card requesting my presence at the annual Porter

voice was strained. "Please,

wanted to end things. Properly. This would be my fin

e. I felt out of place in my simple black dress, a gh

The disfigur

eps her around

t I was already covered in s

near the grand staircase. Kylie was standi

nging with false accusation. "She told me I

ears looked real, her distress c

h you," I said

ou're just jealous! You

a violent lunatic in their e

lent, his face unreadable. His silence

ght was already dead,

ly, a

railing. A wave rocked the yacht, and she lost her footing. S

roar was primal, a

p in after her. "Someone save her! NOW!

rough, the storm was picking up. It

c. No one was moving to help. The waves

ad given my life to, completely unra

walked t

ling against his gu

small, formal bow. The kind a

e taken one bullet for you, sustained seventeen knife wounds, and broken twenty-three bone

ing my words. Realization dawned in his

I was a threat, tight

r," I said. A small, genuine smile touched my lips f

ran towards

I leaped into the

ht against the current, my eyes scanning the dark waves

ted pulling her towards the life raf

last of my strength. She sc

test. I looked up at her, expecting... I don't know what

her eyes filled with pu

ave just died

ot and kicked me.

me. My grip on

you ugly bitc

ng me away from the raft,

r filled my lungs. The ligh

was

was t

losed in, I felt a st

as

broke free from his guards. He ran to the

with Kylie on it. B

raw, agonizing sound that was swa

ave him n