, Miss

t click of the handle nearly drowned out by the quiet rustle o

st the pale stone as my eyes lifted-wide a

n't a

goddamn

ust scream money-it whispered p

ar the arched entryway, and thick, spiraling hedges shaped into rose bushes flanked the pristine drivew

g they'd given me that morning. My p

is

e massive doorway, hands clasped. Her bun was too

proached. "The household manag

ctin

someone had cleaned up and brought into a palace,

aside, and

ury. I didn't

cents. Vaulted ceilings painted with light. Not a speck of dust in sight. It

r suite prepared t

d carved from moonlight and money. Every step echoed louder th

need has been arranged. Should you require anything else, simply dial '1' from the r

.. w

a wardrobe, toiletries, cosmetics, a separate closet for sho

. T

g else, she stepped aside

hints of soft blush. A chandelier hung above a bed large enough to drown in. The closet doo

ll of

r

yell that it was all a mistake. But no one did. There were thr

marked Face and n

uxury makeup brand I'd ever drooled over, untou

e open door m

f fresh mango juice and a light breakfast tray-soft croissants, sl

and rest, Miss Ellory. The

gent

. Kai

hirlwind came

r hands. The thing

hiv

tray. A small, soft pink notebook

as tucke

r pains. Write

re picking it up. The cover was butte

he version of me t

d the tray beside me, a

with the f

IN

's medic

s schoo

eed

ken rela

(or lac

arents

it car

oll

rd felt like a scar. A wound I

ped th

ea

out of th

he Eiff

y pr

n underwa

lla to D

wn boutiqu

ress that fits me

py witho

he time I was done. I cl

ock. This

ai stepped inside without

t come emp

es in the other. Kai dragged in the biggest teddy bear I'd ever seen-at le

"What... is

ied," L

d. "Asher

wh

gentle but firm. "We don't let our gir

akes you cry again, it better be because w

hed. "I didn

ve to ask," K

n my chest I didn't

my cheek and whisper, "You're still beautiful, even when you're lost," and for

a storm that didn't

e was qu

r beside the bed and s

eal. This cou

it

wasn't

ure I'd ev

e only thin

one la

e bought. I just

the mansion's endless sil

st line I'd scribb

e bought. I just

as too much

r, held it to my chest f

he halls like I didn't belong in them, wrapped in silk a

r wasn'

ttle half-full. It was every bit as mascu

placed the notebook do

ece

shouldn't

e my mind and made my way back, my b

me all at once. I collapsed on the bed, the teddy be

n't just

cage made o

overs up and c

my body, I guess this much mo

ld decide whether that mad