ella

skin. I kept my face a placid mask, my posture straigh

out a sky lantern. Sofia clapped her hands in delight

ose. "I wish," Sofia said, her voice carrying in the qu

. "Kiss me, Gio," she whispered. The guests around th

nd, a hint of conflict in their depths. But the pressure of

nd pressed his

ngry. A kiss that spoke of years of pent-up longing.

burned into my mind, and started walking to

bella?" a sharp voice

ds, women I barely knew, had surrou

, said with a sneer. "Can't you take a hint? T

another one added. "Don't

d to walk past them, b

you're better than us? Giovanni used to write Sofia poetry. He flew to Paris for

o be daggers, but my h

oe hissed, her face close

dumped it over my head. The cold liquid streamed down my face and soaked the front of my dress. Then

threw

cted. My heavy dress pulled me down, tangling around my legs like a sh

tion. His eyes were wide with alarm. He started running toward me.

d. "Gio! Help! I s

clutching her leg, her face a mask of pain

d from me, drowning in the lake

d for only

his back on me

my head was the sight of Giovanni lifting Sofia into hi

y nostrils. A nurse told me one of the estate guards had pulled me

king uncomfortable. He said he was glad I was okay and that he had

came to see me. She brought

lend of innocence and concern. "Chloe and the others told me it was just

alled nearly ki

out it," I said

g away. "So, tell me more about your new fia

s," I

one time, he got into a fistfight with another guy just for looking at me for too lon

dy knew. Giovanni was capable of a deep, all-

turning thoughtful. "Gio refuses to talk about it. Says it's too trauma

s. This was my chance to tell her ever

r swung open. Giovanni stood t

aid, striding into the room. He shot me a lo