Broken Vows And Paris Lights: My New Beginning

Mill

rtment, nursing the silen

s in the restroom-a detail Bennett hadn't even noticed. I had bandaged it

It was an event I had curated for months, pouring my soul into every d

e color of steel.

ent chatter seemed to drop a decibel. Everyone kne

nging to his arm, her head resting on his shoulder in a di

ched me, their eyes fill

uching my arm. "How are you h

voice was clear. It didn't tremble. "It w

ck of tears. "But you two were...

of sparkling water. "Whatever we had was real, b

y and expectant. I turn

He expected the weeping, broken wife.

iced. She tightened her grip on his arm and whisper

eak the tension before the final bidd

won. She was young, sha

ounced, grinning. "You may request

. It was meant to

slowly, scanning the room

ness. "You are always so elegant. Would you mind pouri

he air left the room. It was a

r. He wanted to see if I would bend.

he humiliation prickling my skin. Bu

gne bottle from the

ed. He though

oward Aria. I t

ld. "You and I no longer have the standing to ask anything of each other.

ck on the tray with a

d. I had publicly rejected his authority. I had declared my ind

ked fu

waist. "You're right,

t wasn't romantic. It was aggressive.

d, then awkward

less. He looked directly at

ugh for the nearby tables to hear. "You never un

m clearly. He wasn't a king. He was a child throw

ruelty, Bennett,

already tur