gger, stabbing Calliope right

o cut all ties, hearing him-actually hearing him-rush to dump her for another woman still k

hy

realized it, voice shaking, tinged wi

maybe he'd feel guilty? That maybe he

y said, "Calliope, I think you deserve the truth now. I never

that moment, I knew. I can't lose her. I can't have anything around her that could hurt her or shake her peace. I have to eliminate ever

That's the

was now? A problem

er blood run cold. H

ing thought that burst into her

er, he never admitted loving Angelina. He always wore that mask o

ing a thing. He sounded relieved.

everythi

t if he had be

t off and run back to Angelina? Because he got anot

in Calliope's head, s

ness she felt in that past life came flo

ought he could just hurt her all over again? That, for An

ith rage and heartache,

h, ready to throw h

hing, the fury that Eleanor

ter in a flash. Her usual elegant voice was sharp

again, I

with that Angelina this whole time? Then what the hell was all this with Calliope for? What a

tion, each word forced out

ke some kind of fool?! If your heart belonged to someone else, why didn't you just say so earlier? Why wait until the night before the wedd

break down. Her heart felt like it had been

composure. No matter how unpleasant a situation, her moth

her mother's heart; it had crossed a line t

pride hurt Eleanor more t

pected Eleanor to be there, mu

, "Mrs. Carmody, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I let Calliope down. I let your whole

p for wasting her youth and playing with her feelings?" Eleanor w

calm. She gently held her mother's trembling hand,

ology. I'm agreeing to c

e silence on the oth

wavering, "From now on, you go your way, I'll go mine. We're done

ation, she en

r again. She pulled Calliope into a tight hug, her voice choked, "Sweetheart

s arms, her eyes stinging, but

elived events like she had, then things mig

hrough some people, to protect

, her eyes clear and steady, maturity

on someone like him,

rmly. "Right now, we've got mo

ooked bac

ously, "Mom, don't you think it's a bit too convenient t

hat poor girl's had a rough life... H

, especially when money's in the equation,

nor frowned,

e reliable, a professional auditor maybe, and go through Dad's recent financ

ard there might be some trouble