The Price Of Betrayal

had always been her home, a place of love and warmth. But tonight, it f

r like the burden in her heart. The cold night air nipped at her skin as she stood there,

glowed softly through the windows, almost mocki

ds echoed in her mind,

hoice, Crystal.

ould be upset, disappointed even. She had defied them by choosing love over family, by marrying Ch

erself, blinking back tears. "Th

n her head, doubt crept in like a

y ever fo

truly lost

hrough her bones. She shivered, wrapping her coat tighter around he

. No husband. No fa

ng inside her, the only thing keepin

rned away from the estate

-

inst the pavement the only sound in the empty night. The world

nowher

ansion Christian had made sure of

nts-not after the way they had c

e in her life, sh

laying every painful mom

that night, distant, indifferent, as if s

tching as the servants packed her

meet her eyes, turning away as if as

d past Crystal's lips

family for Christian, on

o her stomach, c

kes," she whispered, voice trembling

t

money. No j

she go? What

on Dr. Peterson made her stomach twist. She didn't want to

ly, trying to pus

"I just need to find a place to stay t

on her, making every step

sion b

red, casting long, eerie

e in shallow,

forehead. Her skin was bur

not n

herself, reaching out for something-anything-to ho

ees bu

her grasp, landing with a

d wild. She wanted to move, to call out fo

darkness swallowed her was a blu

ught her just befor

rrounded her, fil

Are yo

deep, warm, fi

ind slipping in and out of consciou

voice muttered, almost

skin as he carefully lifted her into his arms.

nsciousness, one final thought f

.. i

everything