Stolen Melody, A Love Betrayed

e Edwar

a flicker of confusion and something else... apprehension. He took a half-step

but it sounded strained. "Hone

ght and airy, as if discussing the w

udden shift. He couldn't. He didn't know the real me, the one

You' re tired. You' re not thinking clearly. I have that big meetin

postpone, to cont

sudden realization. "Your work is so im

didn' t reach my eyes. "Don' t worr

was so profound it was almost comic

, a gesture of patronizing affection. "T

he day I would sever the la

g," he paused at the door. He pressed a

er you up," he said, his v

cognized it instantly. It was a stock piece from the hospital gift shop, the kind you buy as a la

t made me dizzy. He was giving my sister diamonds bought with my

rateful smile. "It' s be

lf. "I knew you' d love it.

nts' house, the sprawling suburban mansion my music had paid for.

before the front door. I could hear their voice

e always gets like this when I have a big event coming up. It'

your sister. She always gives in for the good of the family. Remember when she let you have her spot at the

calm until the gala is over. We can' t afford for Juliette to make a scene. If the Vangua

hospital this morning. The doctor confirmed the baby is perfectly healthy. We just have to wait until after the birth. Then

. It was my entire family. A conspiracy of smiling faces,

nt. A golden goose they kept locked in a cage,

slipped through my numb fingers and clattered onto the stone steps, the cheap clasp breaking on im

ed and

Jake. I let it ring. He called again.

d she saw your things scattered on your pare

This time, I answered, but said n

you?" His voice was laced with a frantic edge

heard a calm, profess

st sign the consent form here,

re to end m

h on Jake' s end of the line. A s

"Juliette, what procedure? Wh

, blessedly real. He had never been scared of l

ne screen, at his

press of my thumb, I ended th