n rage. Charlotte' s wo

lly constructed composure crumbling. "Y

ia's eyes and decided to walk awa

She lunged, her hands cla

mbled forward, her high heel catching on the hem of her gown. She let o

he balcony, and suddenl

past Charlotte without a glance and knelt

e asked, his voice thick

of wronged innocence. "She pushed me, Bryant!

n Charlotte with cold fury. "Get her over he

to the ballroom, where she was now t

face dark. "Can't you leave her alone for one

zes shifting from pity to co

r voice firm. "I didn't push her

called me names," Charlotte

Charlotte continued, "and sh

. She must have tripped me," she whispered, twisting the truth with practic

yant's conviction. He saw Charlotte as the

oice low and dangerous. "Right now. Or I sw

from reality, that Charlotte almost laughed. Apolo

g with finality. "I will not apo

bed her arm and dragged her back toward the balcony, shoving her toward the

. Below, the city streets were a dizzyi

voice trembling. "She had me beaten in our own home

ion to Kalia's crocodile tears and his dismissal of

n and went limp in his arms, her ey

rage at Charlotte was instantly replaced by franti

or. As he turned to rush her to a doctor,

f," he comman

nd couldn't process the words. H

d her, their faces impassi

she was

e tiled roof of the terrace below, a single story down, but it

g she saw before she blacked out was the image of Bryant, cradling Ka

he world was a haze of white and

re whispering

he fiancée of

night, in the room down the

really

es, a bitter, silent la

talking ab

ve. He was perfectly capable of it. He just didn't love her. For the one he loved

eave her broken and bleeding on a col