When Trust Became a Poisoned Blade

– they all faded, replaced by the white-hot rage that consumed me. "Poor, troubled girl?" Elisa's wor

d chatter like a shard of glass. Every head in the room swiveled towa

my daughter like that?" My voice cracked, raw with emotion. I didn't care about decorum, about public image, about anything

ing through the opulent ballroom. Flashes

et him do it! You covered it up! You helped her steal my art, my life, while my daughter fought for hers!" My voice was

st it!" she wailed, clutching her chest. "Someone, please, she's unhinged!" She lunged t

d back, caught off balance, and then, with a dramatic cry, she collapsed. But this time, she didn't just fall.

ir. "She's bleeding!" "Call an ambu

sudden, horrifying twist I hadn't seen comi

ed. Emmett, pale and stricken, rushed to Elisa' s side, ignoring the crowd, i

" he pleaded, cradling her h

"My baby... I'm losing our baby, Emmett..." Her voice was

He didn't see the blood, the fear, the desperation in my own eyes. He

sgust and horror. I felt a shove from behind, a stranger's hand pushing me away from the scene. My feet tangled, and I fell, hitting the ground hard. My a

is back to me, murmuring reassurances. He never once looked back.

ispered, the words barely audible, choked with

his eyes meeting mine for a brief, chilling second. They were devoid of any re

"You're going to pay for everything." He looked past me, at the security guards

reamed in protest, a searing pain shooting through it. "

lisa as they moved through the frantic crowd. He tossed one last glance over hi

owed me. They threw me into a stark, cold room, locking the heavy door behind me. The sounds of the gala, the

voice, distorted by rage, blamed me for Elisa' s miscarriage. My stomach churned. A

empty room, tasting blood from where I'd bitten my lip. "H

penetrated the thick door. "No one can

ng from the fall, the physical pain a dull counterpoint to the emotional devastation. My