or draining from her

ll in for love-drugged Will

ered it clearly. His breath was hot against her ear, his vo

ed her. Made her thin

in sight. Then the cold shoulder, the

rmth she thought she felt that night,

He never loved her. Heck, she proba

nfully. She barely manag

cking laugh that cut through the sil

g unreadable. "Shouldn't that apology go to Liam? After all, he was about to ma

nt stiff

s like a brand pre

nched her fingers around her sleeve, knuckles white. He

his voice sharp and biting,

blin

ready unlocking the car. The door swung open, and an icy gu

st. done

ad, gripping her h

is tone turned impatient. "

quietly undid the se

to look back inside the car, gathering up her co

uld finish, the d

mth was gone. So was the on

f into the night

y road, she waited. For what felt like for

ders, she tightened her coat, m

together, breathing w

ink-just like her love. Go

cold. Maybe it wa

nto her pocket, trying to call a ride-only

why wouldn't it b

et. Just the echo of her

ping to keep warm joined in-as if her dyi

for two whole hours. It was around m

she didn't even bother with a shower-she j

ught William had pulled h

sipping soup like he had all the time in the world. Whethe

rs nervously picking at the railing. She st

nced up but didn't really look at her. "Come e

ad to cough twice before she made her way do

ht a

as flat, u

ng. She shook her head at the man

ll she

ly froze, but of course she wouldn't say that. It's not like h

ick once-over, but di

Elsie went upstai

dy in the car, but now there was a cu

eper, had made it. The sudden warmt

't as indiffere

itchen, she called

d the medicine and rush

patient-she didn't d

en, Lisa loo

hed as Elsie headed out the door with quick strides, st

house was quiet. Not

the window, distracted

ace was out in the suburbs. Every fifteenth,

s like getting dragged in

parked the car smoothly. "Mr. Ha

didn't

litely at Eric

reached out and linked arms with W

ged her off

looked at him.

ly don't drop ch

hand away and walked ahead, leaving nothing b

face disappeared. The smile fade

ended nothing happened, followi

s. Mar

rom his financial newspaper.

es from where she sat on the couch. I

like shrinking. She stood there, n

s, she'd always felt out of place here.

, giving his mother a glance

ly let out a r

father headed upstairs to the study, leaving her alone

Margaret slammed her teacup hard onto the coff

? It's the fifteenth-families gather today, and look at this mess! If you hadn't pulled that disgust

at time. Wonder why? Because of some sham

om Elsie's face,

rs straight. They clung to her like some cursed l

out of her. "And William-he and Grace were perfect for

. Soon you'll finally be out of this house. I can't

think about pulling another stunt to stay by William's side. Even if you

Margaret's would've

wallow the bitterness in her chest. Her voi

ears-William's heart was ice-cold. No mat

loved her

ep lying

s, finally looked a bit satisfied. "W

ed you grow up. And these years, I won't lie, you've done your part. Once you and William get that div

e done. No debts

ebts

, like still water with no ri

guard. She gave Elsie a long look.

"Don't tell me you still think William will fall for you? Or maybe you

Elsie opened her

y a cold, scornful v

en dream

m standing there, no telling

onless. Like he was watching a