Ninety-Nine Times, Then No More

old eyes. He probably expected me to cry, to beg. He always saw

on his lips. "Playing hard to get now, El

votion. He couldn't imagine a world whe

nervously. "Chase, Ms. Carrillo's flight from London ju

his tongue befor

, his good mood vanishing. He shot a g

didn't mat

the hotel room without anot

This place had never been a home. It was a beautiful cage. I took only my personal belongings, leaving behind the jewelry, the clothes

he bedroom door burst open. Chase st

He strode across the room, grabbed my arm, and

e," I said, my voic

growled, pulling me towards th

y wife one last time?" I asked, struggling aga

this. You leaked those photos of me and June to

wildered. "What are

ssive television. A news channel was on, the screen filled with a chaotic scene at

O Chase Vargas have been in a relati

ending divorce from his wife, E

Chase and June, taken years ago. They looked happy, in

ipping with venom. "You were jealous of her, even as k

d our childhood all too clearly. June, the orphan my parents had adopted out of the goodness

h wide, tear-filled eyes, telling our parents I had pushed her. They had believed her, of course. J

But it was impossible to love a snake

voice weary. I was done defending my

" He saw my packed suitcase by the stairs. "Running

-one he had bought me. It was elegant and demure. T

for June's new album. You're going to stand by my side and smile. You're going to

humiliation was a bitter taste in my mou

d past him, my shoulder brushing his.

ible, staring out the window. He drove in a te

r role, Elena

to my side, he took my hand. I flinched, but forced mysel

most a performance. "Let's go show t

were blinding. I put a small, polite smile on my face and w

ronged starlet. When she saw my hand in Chase's, her angelic smile faltered for just a second. A flash o

oubt, that this whole c