From Savior to Obsessed Stalker

hought was the most romantic in the world. Now, it felt like a key to a gilded cage

vealing Conrad on his knees, clutching a lavender silk scarf. He w

was Kassidy. "Conrad? You sound... out of breath." He snapped, "What do you want?" She asked if the rumors of our marriage w

felt like a giant, humiliating joke. I remembered how my father brought Kassidy and her mother home after my mother'

lieving I was special to him. He wasn't a sai

of my heart. I called Helene, my voice torn with sobs. "I'm done. I don't want him anymore." I w

pte

d Ellison's private v

ntic gesture in the world. Now, it j

floors chilling me through my thin shoes. I wasn't supposed to be here. C

eeks. It was a feeling I couldn't shake, a suspicion whispered by the c

to know t

y ribs. I was aiming for his home office, the one place he kept

ow

doors leading to the balcony. I froze, my hand flying to my mouth. Anoth

I knew. Clothes were strewn on the floor, and the air was thick with

re was

is tailored shirt was unbuttoned, his usually per

soft lavender one I'd never seen before.

ouching

lips. It was a sound of pure de

his voice rough with a l

od ran

. My st

alling h

t scarf. Kassidy had worn it to a charity event last w

read through my chest, freezing my heart,

ght was a saint, pure and untou

didn't d

rom collapsing. I needed to get out, to flee before h

k away, one sile

ing on the nightst

ements jerky. He answer

of breath." It was Kassidy

sharp, cold, completely different from the des

ear the fake concern in her tone. "They're saying our dear Abby

nd of disgust came

ev

me like a p

word a dagger. "I'm sick of her pathetic attempts

ly tolerate her to get closer to me. And to get my father's full

s voice flat. "I can'

urred. "You'll get what

all e

om, broken only by my

e. My father. My stepsister. The man I loved. T

sses that I had clung to like a lifeline-

of foolish, desperate love, fel

uneral. My mother had died from a sudden heart attack, the shock of seeing her husband publicly parading

A nuisance. My stepmother, a master manipulator, spread rumors about me being wild and prom

ignored at home. My life

ad Ellison

ing wine on my dress and mocking me. Conrad had stepped in. He didn't say much,

of light cutting

spent his early twenties in a monastery, a devout Buddhist who had only returned to secular life to take over his

so thick I w

my lips, sounding alien and

was just a man obsesse

y conferences, even trying to dress in a way I thought he'd like. I once wore a revealing dress to a party, hoping

I thought he was abov

just wasn't

rned and ran. I didn't know where I was going, ju

apsing in a heap on the manicured lawn outside. The pe

g for air, the worl

and sharp, formed in t

my fingers shaking. I

t ring. "Abby? What's wr

torn from my throat. "I'm do

rce and protective. "Good. He never deserve

the back of my hand. "Book me a f

mi?

. "I'm not just leaving him. I'm leaving this whole d

are you

lm settling over me. "I'm starti

a joke. I was don