Crai

ht of the paper in my hand felt solid, real. My mother's charity, Craig Foundation, finally free from Debrah's grasping fingers. My share

A strange lightness lifted my shoulders, even as a hollow ache settled i

cia' s saccharine giggle and Jonathan' s deep, resonant laugh. My steps

ine, her head tilted up at him, her eyes sparkling. Jonathan, looking impeccably disheveled, a lock of dark hair falling over his forehead, gazing down at

th fake sweetness. "Look who's decided to grace us wi

er into Jonathan' s shoulder. He stroked her hair, his gaze flicking to me, a

dn't. It felt like a dried-up husk, brittle and unfeeling

e everyone in the room turn their heads, their ex

e rarely looked directly at me anymore, unless he wanted somethi

od. Too good. The kind of good that made you want to h

s of champagne, and took a long sip. The bubble

na, what are you doing here? I thought you were... making amends with yourself." She pu

tibly. He finally looked at me, a direct, unsettling stare

hadn' t visited. He didn' t care.

out, some things are just better left behind. Like toxic relationships, and pe

cally, pulling away slightly. "Kiana! How can y

raised. "Worried enough to visit? Or worried enough to make sur

dge I knew well. "That's enough. Kecia was very

. "Shaken? She was practically celebrating. Don't insul

king a step towards me. "Kiana,

? You already did that, didn't you? You left me for her." I gestured vag

top this at once! Jonathan, please, forgive my daughter.

ocked with Jonathan' s. "I'm saying you're a coward, Jonathan. A spinel

eing spoken to this way. The old Kiana would have crumbled, apologised, begge

han said, his voice low and menacing. "B

ou'll excuse me, I have important business to attend to. Business that actually

ather' s eyes that looked suspiciously l

Kearney?" Debrah demanded,

voiding their gazes. "It's noth

a mischievous glint in my eyes. "It's the future, Dad. And it

in. "Jonathan, Kiana is being so mean to me. I jus

ling her into a protective embrace. He glar

t? For telling the truth? For being t

n't apologize, I will make sure you lose everything. Your soc

and my mother' s bracelet. What else could you possibly take?" I paused, my gaze sweeping over my father and Debrah. "Oh, wait. I know. My father's c

h gasped. Jonathan's eyes, however,

bout?" he demanded, his

insisted." I smiled, a cold, predatory smile. "So, you see, Jonathan, I'm hardly in a position to lose anything. In fact, I'm gaining a husba

h slightly agape. He opened it

u're with Jonathan! You love him!" She looked at Jonathan, her e

e, a storm brewing in his eyes

looked furious, and Kecia looked u

ng. But I have a wedding to plan. And a new life to build. One that doesn'

om, leaving behind the stunned silence and the wreckage of their perfect little illusion

shot. But the first shot had been fire