YOUR MONSTER, MY PRIDE

: Marriag

ht shone through the curtains, cas

was

position. She stared into empty with her half opene

art th

ame rush

ke she belonged to him. The way touch her sof

ept with a

ropped, burying her face within her ha

even know

night had bee

n't lie t

d enjo

she wanted

lips remembered his kiss. Her whole body ac

and lazily walked towards her window. The ocean l

she whispered as she

. "Oh my God! He must have told

r phone and quietly left the be

ted to forge

ind felt heavy. Her steps slow. She dropped her bag and

door fl

L

ound

. Her heart flew. She froze as she saw Saman

ss girl!" Sa

he just held her cheek,

loser to Annabel. "I begged you to stay close to Nathan for

stammered,

abbing a finger in her face. "

ed her hard against the wall. Annabel gasp in pain. Her g

y. "Even when Mom died, he still favored you. And now when he needs y

trembled. "Th

our fault. Just pray nothing bad happens to Dad or the

nd then slammed t

on the bed, weak and drained.

ldn't b

Annabel left the hou

ly by her father's hospital bed. The machines beeped softly. He looked so w

appeared on her lips though her vision was blurr

fted far bac

eld full of flowers

ing each other. She stood aside with her favorite

u can have the doll if you ca

r faces

e Samantha pushed her to the grou

ack!" Anna

d and held the doll

ing. She cried harder. "

her," Samantha sneer

screamed, running wit

book and caught

my princess?" h

y doll,"

is arms. "Is that why you are crying so ha

room, pulled a gift b

ly as she patiently wa

t out a

ned and then hugged

tared at her father's weak

s, Dad," she whispered. "But how can

f his hand as she lowered h

pas

woke to loud scre

h her as she ran do

pened?" s

wasn'

s lau

ming with joy, holding hands, ju

ious?" Saman

e squealed. "The Emersons

st powerful family in the country?! Oh m

screamed, and

dly, trying to smile

o be useless," she said sweetly, "Caroline has secure

led gently. "That

vanished fro

pretend to be happy for me. Once I marry into the Emersons

blinked,

nued, eyes narrow. "And I won't let

udly. "Caroline Eme

n, a pho

e message, and h

widened as Sam

ing the marriage f

ine f

she wh

confused. "What

phone, reread it, a