From Jilted Bride To Ruthless Queen

Brig

kind of place Alexander, with his polished tastes, would have hated. The sticky floor and the

sh glass of whiskey across the bar tow

throat was a welcome distraction from the hollow ache

said softly, wrapping a

r senior year of high school. The melody was a key turning a lock in m

der's face, pale and terrified, leaning over me. He had been following me home, just to make sure I was safe. He' d held my hand in the ambulance, his grip a lifeline, refusi

of choices. He had chosen to love me then. And now, he had

nd I had bought together. The moment I stepped through the door, the scent of his cologne hit

ing room, his arms crossed, a th

" he demanded, his vo

red, kicking

red to my dress, which suddenly felt too

which used to feel like home, now felt like a cage. "You know I don't like

x," I said, trying

y, stepped forward. "Alexander, she's had

without looking at her. He turned his cold

r a slight nod. "It's okay, M. I can h

r's grip tightened. "Are you trying to make me

ng with sarcasm. "The fact that you think you have any right to be angry at a

, a crash echoed from

shing in an instant. He shoved me aside so hard I stumbled

en weight in my chest. I al

d glass. A small trickle of blood ran down her finger. She looked up

e?" I demanded, my voice shaki

. "She was just released from the wellness center. She has

bing at her finger with his handker

my mother's crystal music box, the last thing she gave me befo

left m

er eyes held a triumphant glint. "It was an acci

of my mother's hands placing it in mine, her voice f

nged forward and slapped her, the

my house!"

Alexander was on his feet. He grabbed me, pu

, Avery! Look at what you did! It' s always about you, isn' t it? The spoiled l

er bathroom, his fingers digging into my arm. He s

hing my hair, my dress, my skin. I gasp

ith a fury I had never seen directed at me before. "You need t

ing and soaked in the dark. The sound of the lock cl

uring softly to Kiara, his voice laced

w, he wouldn't even give me a world where I was safe in my own home. The cold wasn't just in the water; it was seeping i