scarriage?" Andrea snapped, grabbing the papers as if she ne

explanation," she adde

didn't s

od, turned, an

d me more than he

Andrea continued. "After everything this fa

he words and

process what ha

r to

t to b

only one still

't say

stood

etly cleared the plates, glancin

l the table was

closed the door... and slid down a

ike something inside me w

w I had married Phil

o confronting m

person asked

asked why I mad

person

wicked m

my life ove

ed my

at it had

Clara's call interrupt

ant told me you were brought in

ldn't

port? I would've attended to

othing

ying? Mara? Did s

ra... everyone knows

trembled

iliated me in front of everyone. I'm

, not giving he

d died in Philip's place...

Don't say that ag

aled. "

I hu

t want

p

nyth

loor until sleep

, my eyes ache

want to s

Elias in the office twis

avoid the family... but

was quiet before going

e kitchen wo

ere, slicing frui

mpletely and wen

ser hitting m

to prov

my back

dn't you be starving? Or begging every one

yed s

apped. "You can't just run away after last ni

y, finally mee

ok for trouble every c

was calm.

focus on my fiancé.

twisted w

you stay here," she spat, grabbi

akily, my ha

t she w

went to t

t heavy the

e elevator, trying to

s opened on a

vid wa

rt stu

self not to

emember

hed before he

sed as if debating whether

n't a

ut yesterday,"

need to be,

e being treated th

houldn't bothe

was fla

ing to plan. That should be yo

evator

y," I added befo

calmly working through papers, as if he

d hot benea

into hi

tantly darkening. "What ar

h wasn't enough," I snapped, "you h

cking. "There's nothin

rward. "You could've confronted me privately,

his palm

ist this.

" I hissed. "I

you miscarried, but the truth is you aborted the Laws

eath

ot what h

port says so. Explain why you hid it. Explain why

" I shouted. "No one in that house ca

said, voice low and dangerous. "You

red a

ike I was the lo

hispered, voice cracking

his chair so fast i

he desk, stoppin

about Phili

g my eyes. "Philip treated me li

d him," Elias said tightly

marrying into this family. And believe me, I'm gla

arked. "Watc

reathed.

hing grew

e burned

to provoke me,"

don't. You don't know what happened. You don't know what I went through.

ned hi

ng ca

"Because to you, I'm the outsider who marr

w tigh

n't de

disgust you. Like I'm filth. Like I'm something the rain should wash off the

oked

or a s

was e

oice trembling. "Not Philip. And... I loved him. At s

est s

y ex to marry him to save your family from scandal. I knew I was just a tool. But the

e comp

t hold it

d ran out o

n't for

ff restroom, splash

like a ghost-pale,

crying for

o

ian sneered as she came ou

until her back hit

me," I said quietly,

thout ano

to my room and stayed

n't h

't wan

my door s

nore

r knoc

e door and flung it o

ose it, but he stepped in

e passed me,

is

been dr

door behind us to a

ooking for y

softly, "I've been

I said quickly. "I need to get you

utiful," he

art s

lower. "I'm so jealous... Philip marrie

as...

g fro

g loose, hi

ey surrounded him

e murmured, his brea

d, unable to look away as

led fa

ed slowly ov

my ey

to my

, his thumb grazing t

You want this

eath

red, his forehead nearly

d, the sound more a

my face an

s since the on

me like he

issed h

ainst my skin, voice brea

want to s

th

or swu

s back slightly, turni

stood

oz