xia

apartment, watching the spectacle

b was down on one knee, offering a ring to Cassandra that caught the harsh glar

ybe, more accurately,

door splintere

it was. He had a habit of trying to sanitize

l had the spare key I'd foolish

his suit impeccable-a stark, cruel contra

apology, never the change. "I just wanted to give you a

. "You just proposed to her on the sidewalk outside my wi

I have to do right by her, Alexia. You know that. But that doesn'

I corrected. "

e. I feel respo

tween us. I held up my right hand. The fingers were stiff, curled permanently

y hand and then away, unable to h

s weight. "We'll find a specialist. On

t was a dry, cracking sound, like st

his solution to every problem that couldn't be solved wi

er is beneath me. This apartment is a pal

mself, to spin the narrative again, but a high-pit

ac

hite coat that looked blindingly pristine against t

n, ignoring me completely, and wrapped her arms ar

ntly. He wrapped an arm around

. I was just che

a split second, the tears vanished. Her eyes were col

ice dripped with fake syrup. "

nd opened her designer purse

he said. "You must b

r. She tore the paper

, holding it out between two manicured fin

sucked out

t Jacob. He wasn't stopping her.

his company from bankruptcy with my own inheritance, only t

t your chari

ra smiled, a thin, razor-sh

ob said weakly.

said. "Let her show y

bbed her chest. Her knees buckled. She sank to the dirty floor

ormance worth

her up into his arms, his face t

too far. She's tryi

ted me," I said

sing in his voice. "Can't you see

oor, her face buried in his neck. As they crossed

at me over

he sm

treating back, my voice breaking against the empty

wer. He just