My Rival, My Only Hope

d, dark blanket pulling me down. My lu

't a memory.

d through me. I would not die here. I

reaming in protest. My head broke through the wate

round a shivering Isolde, whispering in her ear. Alaric, Darrius

ven bothered

had given him everything. Now I knew. He never saw me as a person. I was a prize, a ste

I had to live to

dge of the pool. My fingers scraped against the concrete as I hauled my waterlogged bod

came

ternity, Darrius turned. "Oh, Azal

rn. "We had to get Isolde first. She can't swim.

ed in agreement, their e

Alaric asked, re

their faces, these men I had once called fri

f to my feet, my wet dress clinging to me. I was co

of clothes. I didn't want their false comfort

em by the pool. I could f

t!" Alexande

dripping water on the expensive rugs, and went

sh away the feeling of the pool water, the feeling of their betrayal. But

one buzzed w

eling better. Let me know i

ned. We should have been faster. Let me

thing to cheer you up. A notification followed. A de

ey thought I was the same naive girl who would

messages wit

d. Alaric sent me a diamond bracelet I'd admired last year. Darrius offered to fly me to Paris for

ored

I used to love. I knew Alexander and Isolde would be there

ed the i

, who was dressed in a simple but elegant gown. She looked out of place, a li

ing to Isolde, and she looked over at me, her eyes wid

way, a clear and

us were at my si

placing a comforting hand on m

eserve you,"

m, to expose their hypocrisy to the entire r

lt a wave of nausea. This was the same hand

m away. "I can

a look, confuse

soft. "We're all waiting for yo

nigmatic smile. "You'l

s a small, satisfying victory. L

om, buying her expensive champagne, introducing her to influential people. Fo

it. A way to show me what I was missi

ld have worked. I would

ed was a phantom. The real Alexander Booth was this

own as "The Heart of the Ocean." It wasn't just a piece of jewelry. It was

d given my mother on their wedding day. After he p

ece of a love that was real and true. It was everyt