is displeasure. He opened his mouth to say something, probably a

? Are you

a moment later, dressed in a simple white dress that made her look like an ang

ld anger directed at me melted away, replac

s everything alright?" he

at me, a flicker of something calculating in her eyes before it was replaced by vu

t. She leaned into him, a fr

oulders, pulling her into a protectiv

hardening again. "You see? You' ve upset her. Your m

otte' s manufactured distress. The injustice of it was so famili

commanding. "Apologize to Charlotte

safety of his arms. "Oh, no, Ha

rip on her tightening. "Ava

, I had been forced to make countless apologies fo

gaze. I took

ice clear and devoid of emotion. "I didn

let a fraction of the heartbreak I had

everything. For ever thinking I could be m

t as a desperate, last-ditch plea for his affection. I meant it as a fi

s eyes. He had expected tears, a fight. He didn't k

t let the tears fall until I reached the back garden, my back turned to the house. The sobs wracked my bo

y, I could hear Charlott

ment to you. It must be so difficult for her to see us toge

esigned to make him pull her closer, to see her as

doubt, that he would f