nca'

ood f

like we were in some twisted movie. His embrace wa

me, his hands gripped my shoulder

s voice cracked. "You walked in th

still dripping. Still

. The man who didn't flinch when I bled.

ice low and gentle. "The maids are off tonight, but

an who once said te

sion must

stepping back. "You d

bed, patting the space beside him. "I'

that but I stayed sil

eyes on the floor. "You blame me, don't you? You think if you hadn't been

then, tears. Real ones

. "I know I can be... difficult. And you've been so dista

ared

as a performance. Control

dn't call

m think it

's not your fault," I murmured. "I've just been lonely. Th

y eyes and I for

ed softly, "for how I t

ay. I know that wasn't really you. Mom's already forgi

I was s

ted. "Have you take

reason for this little perf

r. My stomach twisted into knots. The capsul

awer empty. His gaze darted to the t

is this in the trash?" His voice had hardened.

ind r

All of them. The pain was bad, and.

ce, quickly replaced by someth

eased. An overdose w

of me, cupping my face with false panic. "Bianca... what wer

y hair like I was some fragile thing. "Pro

the words feeling like a

eading across his face. "Good. I'll ha

is phon

l crouched in front of

a – M

arly slipped out,

e still held the title

perty? H

had already wiped t

ping the phone into his poc

rmured, voice bare

forehead, th

ushed over and locked it. My hands wer

ll had me wrapped

ne. The girl who trusted h

ianca w

on of me? She was j

**

to Gracefield Medical Center, the sterile

ember the last

sted place. Until I married Nathan and everything shifted. They pulled me aw

lishly bel

nt lights as I made my way to reception. Behind the

. "Bianca?

y, G

e tightly. "It's been so long. You

iled faintly.

expecting you. Yo

d the familiar hallway t

whites, that same faint scent of laven

esk the moment I entered. Her b

e said, risin

whispered, stepping back to take me in. "You

his time. "You hav

the faintest trace of gray at her temples. She really hadn't chan

sterday," She folded her hands on the

id. "But... you mentioned you ha

tated for

," she offe

ead. "No. Ple

face, her eyes searching, as if uncertain I was

was soft but resolute.

rying to proc

squarely. "You d