His Betrayal, Her Fiery Rebirth

w of the lake, my parents finding comfort in the local libraries and museums. I found a job as a translator, the work

iny afternoo

rle

gy dimmed. She was staring into a cup of coffee as if it held the answers to the universe. I could have kept w

be, the one who tried to fix things, hadn't been completely erased by the f

and sat down

ition dawned slowly in her eyes

e barely a whisper. "What are

finished for her. "I am. The

ox of chocolates on the table next to her purse. The same expensive brand

to buy you," I sa

looked down at her hand

erable, Scarlett. This wasn't the

's not the man I thought he was. He's controlling. He's possessive. Sometimes, he looks at me and I feel like he does

months, began to harden again. He was trying to build a new cag

ssed. He hired private investigators. He's pulled military records. He's willing

I said, my words sharp.

.. your parents. He said he was trying to force you to leave him for your own good, to

damage, that I almost laughed. He had burned my

you. To your baby. The normal life he promised you doesn't exist. It's

on with her, to appeal to her better nature. The new Ava knew that survival was a selfish act. But looking at her, seeing the

she asked, her

of the cold finality in Liam's eyes. I thou

onsume you, or you can run. You have family. You have a community. Go to

ge that had saved my life. It was a calculated move, a way to create a new problem f

I realized there was more to it. A part of me saw a woman trapped by the sam

aid, my voice softening slightly. "He's a man

k of dawning, horrified

touched coffee on the tab

Now I had to wait and see if it would grow, or if Liam's darkness would choke it before