e' s grand birthd

as told, meticulously

' s hotels was transformed i

reamed of, and a perfect echo of Ava

m, moved like a ghost among the gues

snippets of

ted to Chloe. Loo

. He spares no

. I heard she's working fo

r for him. More sophist

needle, pricking at h

umiliation w

center of attention, while Ava was the fall

d-studded gown, glided through

Ava near the

int appeared i

va, a predatory

ice loud enough for nearby guests

simple gold locke

her, her most precious possession, the o

s rather quaint, but I think it

tinctively wen

her past, a symbol

be like surrendering the

ched, curious,

pression unreadable, b

then at the expecta

ther's loving smile when s

ep you safe, my de

a

was a moc

is locket hold in h

r thing for them t

. Her family was shatter

y the weight of all her losses,

s trembled

it out

Ava said, her voice barely a whi

triumph. She immediately put it on, a vu

e sense of detach

of her past,

ie to hop

e twitching in his jaw

slight cough, leaned dr

ling too well. The doctor said my heart is still

pointed l

on darkened as h

thing that made Av

aid, his voice chillingly casual. "Perhaps she could be of

t. Maybe you should consider donating yours, Ava. It

c irony was

hers to give again, the organ that was already failing her, the organ wh

zzy spell, th

that defined her fragile existence,

r, recoiled i

suggest such a thing?" s

anything from her family i

at Ava wi

ember? I gave you my love, my support, when you h

e into his chest,

gest I take som

on softened as h

e right, my love. Forgive m

u're not worthy of su

wound, were a shie

had, ironically, protected her

han's delusion, pushing A

sionate embrace, right there

a public declaration of his affect

ded, cooing at th

t was the

ocked in a lover's embrace, celebrated by the wo

intensified, spreading

longing for escape, for an en

s, away from the scen

a place where she could breathe

a balcony overlooki

mental pond glitter

peaceful

esc

ing, trying to catch her breath, a fig

Hard and

l cry escaping her lips as s

eemed to t

k of cold wate

e surface, the wate

ent, pani

sense of peace

s it. R

ight. She di

l her down, into the

chest eased. T

d in that moment,