Three Years, One Cruel Lie

ning. I waited until their car disappeared down the

sheets were a tangled mess on the bed we once shared. An empty champagne bottle and two glasses sat

axon, his arms wrapped around me in this very bed, whispering

sounded more like a sob. Ho

My sheet music was gone, my keyboard covered in a thin layer of dust. In its place, on

d me in his bed. He had

ing left for me here. As I stepped out onto the driveway, a sleek s

s face. Krystal Gomez. A triumphant, vicious

up my leg. My head hit the ground, and the world spun. Through the haze, I saw h

ed beeping of machines. Hospital. Again. My head

w and soothing. "It was an accident, Krystal. The doctor said sh

s chest. My own chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vise. I remembered him holding me just

ck against the pillows. A moment later, Jaxon was there, his

sked, his voice a frustrated sigh. "Wh

face I had loved so much. It wa

the rage and the pain. "Who was th

y to look away.

ncerned frown on her face. "Oh, you must be Alina. Jaxon talks about you all the time. He thinks of you like a lit

ghed, a bitter, broken sound. "I want to pres

e in the room

' t be ridiculous. It was an acciden

id, my voice rising. "She accel

. He turned to Krystal, his expression softening. "Y

is arm around her waist. He

d stand by me against anyone. The reality of his betra

orite pastries from a bakery across town, the same ones he used t

k," I said, pus

this is a shock. The marriage... it' s a business arrangement. A con

eign. "I love you, Alina. I' ve only ever

face, the pleading in his eyes. For a terrifying

n, his expression immediately softening into

toward the door. "Krystal isn' t feeling

er cam

allowed to walk with crutches. I hobbled down the hallw

e door was open. He was sitting on the edge of the

t made my stomach churn. "The doctor said we can

just need to rest and get strong

ust... the obstacle. The little sister