Vanc

small, dusty cottage on the edge of

ngs with air that didn't smell of

s: The Children's Ho

and my absence would be interpreted as a

d to

s, dangerous. I wore my hair up, exposing the long lin

the ballroom, the

is arm. She was wearing white, like a mock bride

aw me, his sm

an he had exiled two weeks ago. He looked

him n

way one acknowledges a busi

this snake pit, rushed over. "Oh my

moothly taking a glass of ch

... he's he

ee t

't it

ge, Chloe. We made our cho

stening. I knew he was. He expected

of sight. Izzy clung to

His tone was accusatory, as if my we

to a painting on the wall. "The coun

long time, Ellie.

k. It's what

o an old donor. I felt Marcus's ga

ng the sun; he didn't know how to h

organizer announced a ga

pectator sport where you spun the wheel, then answ

e giggled, spinning the di

Question to the Pers

the microphone. Her eyes lo

d. "I think I'll

y, then at me. He didn't stop her. He wanted to

s. "After everything... do you really think you still have

ack on my status, m

cheeks. Every eye was on me

ake the microphone. I just proj

h qualifications, Izzy. It'

the words hang i

past. I chose to walk away fr

eat

lled her-and

is ego, fragile as crystal, shattered. I hadn'

rom Izzy. But instead of sp

isse

cameras. In front of the fa

punishing kiss. A

oom g

ked straight at me. His eyes were w

o the mic, "are just history.

. He was trying to stab

he m

lized the man I loved was dead. This man? Th

small, pit

. "Could I have a refill, pleas