Crai

le in my back, even without turning around. My words, meant as a declaration of independence, had landed like a bombshell. Marry

of newfound resolve. I had to get out of this house, away from their toxic

e, sharp and commanding,

faced his anger too many times. Th

is grip surprisingly tight. "What do you mean, you're marry

Jonathan," I said, my voice eerily calm, "I'm not your girlfriend. Not anymore. I made that clear last ni

ou're marrying a man in a coma? To save your father's faili

ng my lips. "But at least I'm doing it for myself, for my mother's legacy, not for a man who

you're being emotional. Y

ecia, over and over again. Choosing her lies, her fake tears, her ridiculous 'wellness' schemes. You even chose he

s-guilt? Regret? It was quickly masked by ange

! And you still made me eat it! To prove I wasn't 'jealous' of her? To appe

s digging into my flesh. "You're overrea

e. With my mother's bracelet in your hand. To go to Kecia. While I was still r

sn't yours, Kiana! Your father sol

w pain and anger erupt. "My mother's last piece of jewelry! She lov

"She's a sweet, innocent girl who has been through a lot! And yo

Debrah and Kecia had carefully crafted for years, now echoing from the l

but I quickly blinked it away. I

ble. "If that's what you truly believe, J

a dull ache compared to the gaping wound in my soul. I turned

e, Kiana!" he snarled. "You're n

" I hissed, struggling against hi

ppeared at the end of the hallway, Kecia clinging to her, both of them looking like they' d ju

immediately released my wrist. He smoothe

eaving," he said,

Gage Sawyer. Jonathan, she can't! You two are meant to be!" She turned to me, her voice su

e was still playing the game, still tryin

. Or the convenience. But he doesn't love me." My gaze flickered to Jonathan, whose f

" Kecia began, her voic

er off. "It was stolen from my mother's memory, just lik

ding Kecia. "That's enough, Kiana.

an. And it's certainly not here, with you, or with them." I gestu

new strength I hadn't known I possessed. I heard Kecia's choked sob, t

e, under the vast, indifferent sky. The air had a bite to it, colder than I remembered. But the co

ly to leave me bleeding on the floor of his penthouse. Kecia: the sister who had always found new ways to wound me, her innocenc

ushing me to the brink. They had all

destroyed me. Th

of the allergy attack, combined with the emotional onslaught, proved too much. My

n. I closed my eyes, the last image burned into my min

e dull hum of medical machines. My head throbbed. My

nurse's voice, di

heavy, unresponsive. My eyes flutte

nother dramatic episode." A hu

reaction last week, too. Poor thin

oyfriend, was just seen leaving with he

arrative. The "party girl" Kiana, always causing drama, always the victim of h

in my mouth. They had twisted eve

miliar weariness. Beside him, Kecia, her eyes wide with concern, a sof

ched. My enti

n, his voice low. "You

ard you collapsed. Are you okay? The doctors said it was an allergic reaction again. A

tood there, arms crossed, his expression a mi

suring hand on Kecia's shoulder. He looked at me then, his eyes cold. "Kiana, you n

Again. For collapsing after his betr

. "My behavior is unacceptable? What a

Jonathan. "Kiana, please.

wed. She was

how she scratched her arm? Was it from 'protecting'

ed at Kecia's arm, then back at m