fluttered open to a room full of people. Jaye Hinton stood at the foot of my bed, flanked

Jaye said, her voice drip

ant?" I rasped

busy. He asked us to check on you. And to tell you to stop being so clingy

a slap in the

you feel any shame? You're holding him back. Eve

said so bluntly, so cruelly, was devastating

t and reasonable, which made it even worse. "He deserves to be

rself. Of co

my voice trembling. "My

se. The Ortiz family was just being charitable. They to

r than I expected. My father was a good man. He was framed, for

nted. She picked up the cup of hot water from

nched back, my hand flying up to protect my face. In my panicked motion, I knocked t

cing shriek. "My ha

ent they were tormenting me,

Kason rushed in, his

He completely ignored m

aye sobbed, cradling her hand, which was barely

ich I once thought held the stars, were now two chip

this?" he

stice of it all stole my breath. He

on,

ntly took Jaye's hand, examining it with the utmost care

g soothing words to her, leaving me a

he returned. His face

to her," he

resh wave of pain. "I didn't do it on purpo

ver do something like that. You'v

he jealous, petty one. He was so blinded by his love for

lying?" My voice w

aw tight. And in his silence, I had my answer

d my lips. It was a dry,

ha

ce flat and dead. If this was th

constant reminder of his cruelty. I wheeled myself down the hall

bing at her eyes with a tissue. She looked up as I entered, a flicker of

me into. He always said it was for work only. Yet here Jaye was,

voice empty. "I'm so

say more. I couldn't admi

lip trembling. "Kason... she d

rd. "Alicia, that's

asked, looking up at him. "

rdened. "Just apo

ad at Alicia. Maybe she's just upset because of her le

issive. He had already turned his attention back to

ved past the doorway, my wheel caught on the edge of the rug. The

white-hot and absolute. I cr

"Oh, Kason, you should take me to dinner tonight t

was a low murmur, full of a

a hand. He didn't ask if I was okay. He just stepped ov

hoing in the empty hallway. Silent tears streamed down my face, not

e helped me back to my room. She

if sharing a secret. "Heard he booked the most expensiv

ad asked Kason to take me there for my birthday las

like the restaurant. He j

cision. This had to end. I couldn't live like this anym

oing to