The Transactional Marriage: Her Bitter Ascent

icy intensity. His gaze, usually dismissive, now held a chilling cont

ng up trouble again?" He turned his attention to my friends, his expression hardening. "And you," he addre

s trying to protect my friends from

aping my lips. "She's harassing my friends

mask of theatrical tears. "She's lying, Gregory! She's always been jealous! She's trying to turn eve

ective anger. "See what you've done, Christie?" he snarled, his voice a low growl. "You upset her. You deliberately upset her." He turned b

faces paling. They knew G

ing forward. "Don't you

muffled sobs echoing in the sudden silence. As he passed, he gave a curt nod to his bodyguards.

My friends, brave as they were, looked terrified. They

ng in front of Sarah. "

gly gentle, but his eyes were firm. "You know Mr. Henson. When he gives an order, it is carried out. Especial

t an eye. He'd crush my friends without a second thought, just to appease Kennedy. My heart constricted with a horrifying realiza

formed in my mind. There was on

landed on an ornate crystal vase on a ne

ging with a newfound, desperat

ening crunch echoed through the room. A sharp, searing pain shot up my arm, making me gasp. Blood bloomed r

d, her face contorted in horror. My other

g wrist, pain making my head spin. "Tell him I did it. I'm the one who needs to be punished. Not them.

k by my sudden, brutal act of self-harm. My friends, tears streaming

d you do this?" Sarah wh

e, Sarah. It's just a broken bon

r to a hospital, now!" he urged the others. Th

the air. A furious shouting from upstairs. It wasn't Greg

hall. And there she was. Kennedy. Teetering precariously on the railing, a b

oing through the silent hall. "You just don't! You only c

down from there!" He stretched out a hand, his voice laced with a frantic desperation I had never heard before. "My l

, was now pleading, groveling, for this manipulative drama queen. The absurdity of it all was sickening

ed on the polished marble. A collective gasp rose from the onlooker

regory

oor, trying to shield me, when it happened. In a sicken

ed direc

creamed in agony. My ribs, still healing, cracked under the impact. The air was knock

he stunned crowd. He reached us, his eyes wide with terror. He didn't even glance at my face, t

spered, his voice thick with overwhelming c

der, and without another word, without a backward glance, he turned and rushed out of the