On Her Wedding Day, His Death Began

wering windows of the

pread below like

ost more than his gra

like a

ilt, his wife, e

littered. Her

Carsons are here. T

didn't rea

aught in his throa

a small, imp

ng. Like you were

ke a stray sh

park near Pittsburgh

a chasm they live

arm, fingers tight

d in the grand hall

h her party, a q

behind her, a

peak to a gue

evening, S

le faltered.

elmed, Senator. He's not used

a caress and a

y were alone, h

anished. Ic

rrassed m

I t-

ou are a Vanderbilt now

a project. So

s a vise, c

a man named Juli

th smiles and e

lit up when

, shi

became a fixtur

ulian v

Ethan, her fac

he? Where

s head. "I...

lous. You've done

rose to

s grandparents will pay. Their farm?

in the air, heav

nts. His only

shown him kindnes

e tried to write on a not

swear. I d

d the note,

cially for you, when you can

as a casual t

lly, shaking his hea

hed him,

cold, her d

our to tell me.

r despair, a crus

ys worse under st

make small, st

om, her silk robe

lucked you from obscurit

as low, alm

repay me? By hurting

arrative. That she was

trol was a f

. You will not leave me.

en only by Vicky's furious mutte

give. Julian's disappeara

ng. Vicky sn

n changed as

smile spread a

hung

d, her voice drippin

led. They'll be serving your g

t her, his blo

no.

But that's

screen on the wall.

. His grandparent

men were knocki

, frail and con

ood behind him, he

anded the

dozer rumble

weather-beaten barn, the

p-please..

would I stop, Ethan? Y

zer's engi

of the barn. Wood splinte

a thin, terrified sound th

her chest a

ed to her side, his

eo feed

to him, her e

art attack. So tragic.

s, a silent scream

rld sh

ysical thing, tea

Grandpa... alone,

him. Becaus

ver felt before, began to smol

ve

in his mind, c

r pay. He would

t Vicky, his f

gone, locked awa

ot a physical one. So

destroy her world as

arc. His friend

elp. Marc al

Vanderbilt mansion f

had broken him comple

an Astor w

l, claiming amn

o the mansion, fussing o

d them from

than to the ma

king pale and interesting. Vicky w

s of ice. "Julian is back. He was terrib

what? For Julia

he man met his gaze with

tion was a

his hea

-n