er hands. The television played in the background, but she wasn't paying attent
n, a small part of her had still hoped. Hoped that one day he
ed inside, his movements stiff and deliberate, as though carrying a burden too hea
ned how to b
is throat. "Aria,
t made her uneasy. She turned to face him
bing his palms to
ready
t across from her. His fingers tapped aga
h Sterling yest
Hugh Sterling?
sed. "He made
brow. "What
irst time in a long time, she saw so
t terri
u to marry h
into suffoca
she must have misheard
. "He wants you to m
er lips. "That's funny
m n
ip on the cup tightened as a sic
ld he wa
n in a vegetative state for months. Hugh believes that if he has
to process his words. "So, he wants me t
linched b
again, but the weight in her father's expre
d firmly. "Ab
hand down hi
ter. "Why are we even discussing this? Why would any father in hi
nce sent a chi
ider it, did you?" she asked slo
didn't
th caugh
to the floor. "
g inside
moment, all she could hear
t?" she
his voice thick with emotion. "I had no choice.
rted, but no w
gs from her father. Distan
not
betr
ust sold me off like a commodity? You didn't even
that," Gregory plea
life away without even asking me! Now do yo
of her eyes, but she r
g for her, but she too
out. "I don't w
tune in exchange for this marriage. Enough t
e I become a glorified nursemaid to a man I don't even know? The one where I lose every ounc
ed as if she h
The walls of the room seemed to
ispered, shaking her he
with something unreadable. "If
him, her thr
't just
forci
lt like she was drowning without being inside water. She couldn't make
to you anymore?" she murmured, her voice ho
d. "Aria, you d
her eyes burning with betra
ply, storming t
, ple
gnore
pe before the pieces cut her too deep. She needed space to breat
airs, Gregory's final words echoed t
til tomorrow
mile cross
n't a
ever
e wors
ly what her an
es white. She turns to look back at her fa
. But don't expect me