choked out, her voice trembling. Her hands were

ek Holland and....she ran of

, pale and stunned like someone

down his face, then he looked at me, really l

doorway in my lilac b

lose the Hollands." His gaze sharpened on me. "Vanessa... you

moment. Not with fear or confus

nd with some ridiculously wealthy Italian bus

ave everyone hanging, including Dere

ting, and the Holland family was present. Derek was standin

. she w

nd

, I was so f

had a secret burie

et crush on D

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

" but even that word h

eaten. He once bought me a book be

d was blinded by her. But

t point, I

e anyone could ask again. "

happiest day

ould've stood. My heart galloped inside my chest

an who gave me butter

t last because Derek

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

anged nothing in his heart towards me. Y

was not her. That I was the repla

did, it was clipped with silent rage

the most intimate momen

always

Night. In anger, in

nn

e. Nev

at one day, he'd turn and see me

t day ne

... it n

e Annie

d? It just t

e again. I'll never let you go. Ever." Derek's voice floated into

g to them talk. Making promises to them

u, Derek. I don't even want

fleeing this time. She was

The last four years in marriage with your s

ays of h

as physically abused! Beaten and punched li

r at my peak stage all becau

ndustry now, outshining me who was

to leave everything behi

ck to take everything that belo

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

cracked open.....I co

onting them. My heart kept hammering again

to ge

ad t

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

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

eached the las

ness

ie Thomas. Standing beside him was my st

g in the foyer, wa

reath. "We've been looking everywhere for her

ak. My throat closed up again and

"She's upstairs. In my bedroo

ed in surprise but my fathe

ed, nodding slowly.

lm smile "At least she cam

swayed be

ble, did you? " She sounded amused. "Derek and Annie have always ha

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

feeling gutted, they

d replaced. Like I'd nev

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

n my chest....rage,

et away from there. If I stayed for one