tepmother choked out, her voice trembli

rek Holland and she ran off

w, pale and stunned like someone

down his face, then he looked at me, really

doorway in my lilac br

o lose the Hollands." His gaze sharpened on me. "Vanessa... yo

moment. Not with fear or confu

nd with some ridiculously wealthy Italian busi

ave everyone hanging, including Derek

iting, and the Holland family was present. Derek was standi

she wa

nd

e, I was so

s had a secret buri

ret crush on

d me differently. When my stepmother tossed me around like I didn't

" but even that word he

eaten. He once bought me a book bec

nd was blinded by her. Bu

t point, I h

re anyone could ask again.

happiest da

hould've stood. My heart galloped inside my ches

an who gave me butterf

't last because Dere

me he would never see me as a lover. He never sm

hanged nothing in his heart towards me.

was not her. That I was the replac

did, it was clipped with silent rage

the most intimate moment

s alway

, Night. In anger, i

An

me. Ne

one day, he'd turn and see me.

at day n

w, it ne

e Annie

ld? It just

me again. I'll never let you go. Ever." Derek's voice floated int

ng to them talk. Making promises to the

want to rememb

t fleeing this time. She was

The last four years in marriage with your

ays of hi

physically abused. Beaten and punched like

er at my peak stage all beca

leave everything behin

ack to take everything that bel

s time, it was a genuine laugh. One that he only shared wi

cracked open. I coul

ronting them. My heart kept hammering agai

d to g

ad to

ar me. And if he heard me..... hell, I fear he would beat m

was my lifeline. My throat burned and my vision blurred even mo

reached the la

anes

ie Thomas. Standing beside him was my ste

g in the foyer, wat

breath. "We've been looking everywhere for he

ak. My throat closed up again and a

off. "She's upstairs. In my

ted in surprise but my fath

d at me with a calm smile "At least

r swayed b

able, did you? " She sounded amused. "Derek and Annie have always h

rudges. We'll present a united front at dinner. Make sure the

y erased and replaced. Like I

ran. I ran out of the iron gate, into the main ro

in my chest....rage,

et away from there. If I stayed for one