Erasing the Woman He Promised Forever

he time she went back inside, but she didn

st. She saw Keenan Costa once more across the room. He gave her a sma

t through thi

a charity brunch Floyd and Jaylah were hosting at the house. A final, fated piece of t

. There wasn't much left. Just a box of art supplie

ll, velvet box. Inside was the simple engagement ring Floyd h

for a moment, the

p knock on her d

arly empty room. The denial he'd b

ving," he said. It

es

he velvet box in her

id, moving to put

his hand closing ove

and fall open. He took the box, o

with you?" he aske

e said. Which was a lie. She

He snapped the box shut. "I'm clearing out all the old t

t time, that there was no p

stand,"

nted a reaction. Tears. Pleading. Something to r

ng from you," she sa

her, wary.

thorize the transfer." It was a request she had made a dozen times ove

r a long moment. Th

N

was col

he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. "All ex

ing the power over her family's well-being to the one person he

out from under her. But her

id. "Thank you

standing alone i

y brunch drifted up from downstairs, Elizebeth

a small

h a handsome, cruel face stood beside a woman in a glitter

shadows, was a third figure. A pale, faceless girl

, "The End of

asel in her room, facing the door. A

r suitcase when the

oyd. He w

ne, replaced by a raw, desperate anger.

ou're going?" he slur

aving,

shaking his hea

er against the wall. The smell of

face close to hers. He reached out, his hand t

d through her numbness. This

n't a kiss. It was an act of possession. A brutal, c

g against his chest,

her cheek. His eyes were unfocused, f

me that destroyed what

es closed in a moment of drun

rld st

r ear screamed int

warm body to be used when the real o

into this man... had been for nothing. She wasn't even a me

roscopic ember of feeling she might hav

hing left but