The Ballerina's Broken Steps

link of glasses drifted up. Ava Miller and Ethan Hayes were not there. They were in a

inst Ava' s ear. "Europe. Paris, Rome. Just us." H

was twenty-three. She' d loved him since she was fifteen, right after her mom, Sarah, married his dad, Da

party. He' d said he was drugged, vulnerab

oice a low rumble. "And if they

Ava breathed, meaning every word

was winding down. They managed a few stolen kisses in the

her own apartment waiting. "M

t there," Ethan said

to her old sedan. She was just a few blocks from the mansion when th

ywhere. Ava tried to open her eye

' s voice, low and urgent, from just outsid

voice, unfamiliar. "The brakes on her car. My

ood turne

s voice cold, hard. "The doctors here are already saying her legs

nge is sweet, huh? Six years

h Miller, that bitch, she drove my mother Eleanor to her grave. Stole my fathe

happiness. Eleanor Hayes, Ethan' s mother, had been ill for a long time. Ethan idolized her, blamed

who she loved, who she trusted

d told her someone put something in his drink. He' d clung to her. She wa

olen moment, every whispered promise. She had given him all her love,

The betrayal was a physical thing, tearing through

was there, sitting by her bed. His fa

otion. He reached for her hand. "I was so scared.

his blue eyes. It was all a performance. A sick, tw

er hand. "I'll get the best special

claw at him. But no sound

the dam inside Ava broke. Sobs wracked her body, silent and agonizing. Six years. Her youth, her d

rushed in, her fa

d, hugging her gently. "David

er, the only real thi

membered... my old college roommate, Diane. Her son, Ben Carter. He's a surgeon, a really goo

scans. He called back. He said... he said there might be a si

est. Vail. Away from Ethan. A chance to hea

ed, her voice hoarse. "

ief washing over her face.

r of hope. She had to.