Love's Ashes, A Bitter Price

rs tried

physician said, his voice firm. "She's lost a significant amount of blo

am responsible for her safety. She is coming with me

n my arm. It was the middle-aged nurse from before. Her eyes we

y, dear," sh

the emergency room for a simple fever. He had terrorized the entire

fierce protector was now my

ave hurt less if I had never known his love at all. To hav

pill from my secret

hen, the shrill, insist

hing! Get t

dropping! We'

. The smell o

g, final dr

death,

I... came back. They blamed me for the death of thei

spat on me. A man grabbed my hair and slammed my head ag

eyes. I tried to speak, to tell them the truth, but my voic

n. He was my husb

, watching. He made no move to hel

love for him finally died, leavin

body home. The mansi

room, casually scroll

urprise in his eyes. He rushed to my side

d, his voice dripping with false concern. "Tho

em. He, who had s

uries," he said, try

from a hot flame.

in mid-air. He looked genui

bouquet of roses, seemingly from thin air

m sorry. I promise, I'll get r

ie. The same b

hout a word. My silenc

re of her laughing, holding an identical bouquet of roses. The

e pain in my heart was so intense,

at the door. "Sir,

Franklin Corp gala. An event I was

eting my eyes. "It's for appearances. To f

d not

voice hesitant. "Wil