Jilted Bride, Shattered Illusion

e her. She headed to Bergdorf Goodman. Retail therapy

section when a familiar voice cut th

t that

n Chanel bag, the very one Julianne was examining.

to the sales associate, her voice calm

aid, stepping forwar

rate look, her eyes scanning Cayla' s off-brand clothes. "This bag

ne, stepped in smoothly. "Miss Lancaste

. "I can too afford it!" she hissed, digging in her purse and pulling out a credit card. I

ed, her expression on

intervened. He stepped between the two women

he said, his voice low and

oulders shaking. "Demetrius, she's bully

g his anger on Julianne. "Let her have it

softening. "Don't cry. You can have any

from pity for Cayla to disapproval for Julianne. They saw a generous

woman whispered. "H

y his ex," another commente

ad no interest in the bag anymore. She

ping with disdain. "It will match t

as she did, a piercing fire

ing, running for the exits. The crow

r footing and fell, her ankle twisting painfully beneath her. A sharp p

through the panicked crowd. He had Cayla wrapped securely in his arms, sh

her voice raw with desper

meeting hers for a fleeting second. She saw a fla

hest, "Demetrius, I'm scar

oor, then at the crying woman i

out of the store, leaving

ope shattered. He

it her teeth, ignoring the people running past her. She pulled herself up, using

f the street, her leg gave out. She collapsed onto the pa

la, who had apparently gotten separated from him in the final push

e ground. He rushed over,

e, are y

emanding woman-was gone. In her place was a stranger, someone who looked at him without a trace of emo