The Fake Death Plot

was as grand as E

stal chandeliers glittered, champagne flowed freely, and a string quartet

ossessively around my waist. He played th

ever seen?" he boasted to a group of business a

their glasses. "To Ethan and

The word

my ear, his breath warm against m

ate for a sign that his grand gestur

ent, the mask slipped. He saw

wearing a stunning red dress, a stark contrast to my simple

she looked at his arm around my waist. "Can I borrow

ntion shifting to her. He dropped his arm f

, leaving me alone in t

tched them go, his head bent close t

owards the balcony, away from the s

ia blocked my path. Her smile was go

ssed, her voice low and venomous. "You th

t her, my expre

"He feels guilty. That's all. He's with

e me. But I felt nothing. Just a cold,

one?" I as

reaction. "You bitch! I'm going to ma

contorted with rage. And then,

a theatrical gasp, she threw herself backwards, down the short f

in front of me, the next she was a heap of red si

ing her stomach. "Stella, why?

rowd. All eyes were on me, standing at the top of the s

horror. He rushed past me without a s

t? What happened?" he y

trembling finger at me. "She pushed me! She

looked at me, his eyes bla

s, and before I could say a word

ackwards. My cheek stung, my head rang, and

eir faces a mixture of shock and morbid curiosity.

rom the physical pain, but fro

e breaking. "You can't possib

oaning and pointing at a small tri

n they met mine again, were filled with

than this, Stella," he said

voice laced with a fury I had never he

as telling me. He had

in the silent room. "Kneel and beg for