A Painter's Revenge: Love Redeemed

oked at me, her eyes wide wi

spered. "Alana, are you sur

d to explain. I hadn't told

hospital room d

bouquet of my favori

A cold dread washed over me.

understood immediately, her face harden

ld never let me leave. He would lock me up, chai

room, his eyes filled w

is voice soft and pleading. "

t him, my

we're getting m

t me like a

apist suggested. A way to give her a sense of security so she can finally heal. Then, I'll

understanding. "I need you to be the

. My maid of honor. At my fiancé's wedding to another woman.

been shattered into dust, fe

pet he could abuse and the

my ear, "Alana, you're my wor

ough me. I grabbed the water glass from

t o

g against the wall behind him. The room

" he said, his voice c

as if I hadn't just thrown a glass at h

ping me on a leash. He wanted the world to see me, his actual

shaking with fury. "You and her. Yo

ehind my head and threw it

ve. The pillow bounced

you to wear," he said, completely unf

this is all over, I'll mak

ing from my throat, raw and desperate

lay. Damian and Eileen visited constantly. They'd sit by my bed, holdin

st performance, her eyes w

bling. "It would mean so much to me. I'm so sc

athing becoming shallow, her body sl

me with disgust. "That poor girl," they'd wh

illain in t

ore. During one of their visits,

I said, my voice

can't do it, Damian! I can't marry you if she h

the room, sobbi

on me, his face

oared, grabbing my shoulders. "Can't you j

e she's better, everything will go back to normal

er gets better?" I a

a second. "She w

her, Damian," I said wearily. "Before she run

t go of me and bolted from

a cold, dead weight in my chest. I cou

I packed my small bag, my hands

ugh the hospital

ge, happy grin on his face. He was handing out sm

ur marriage, Mr. Avila

old. I fumbled

sage. Fro

ing fingers were matching wedding bands. Below the photo was an

omorrow. It was toda