The Fiancé Who Stole My Life

a P

s grins. Their previously discerning eyes now held a calculating gleam as they ushered Katia and her friends towards the

mountain. My mind, usually so orderly, struggled to keep track

tant, her voice overly sweet, listed a figure that made my bl

id, her smile unwavering.

have that kind of money," I whi

rossing her face. "What do you mean you don't have

ked," I explained, my voice

mountain of merchandise, then back at Katia, their eyes wide. This was not the

any hissed. "She al

ier resurfaced. I wouldn' t be bullied into this. Not anymore. Not for them. M

specially in front of her cronies. With a frustrated sigh, she snatched Garrison' s b

professional, swiped it smoothly. The transaction went through. Katia

averted, Katia' s friends regained their swagger. The

," one girl sneered. "Remember how she

nother agreed. "Let's remi

She grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong.

, and into a pristine, white-tiled bathroom. Her friends followed, bloc

riends joined in, their laughter echoing in the small space. My dress was in tat

ar on my arm, a relic from a childhood accident. "Trying to hide your i

g my body, my lack of curves,

aid, poking my cheek. "Still so b

nothing for Garrison, I can tell you that. He told me himself. He said she was

you never reacted. How you never cried. He said it made him feel like he wa

en, Empty. A void. Now echoed b

e like a neglected pet. He kept you out of pity. But now he has me. And I' m certainly not

throom door. Voices, hushed and urgent. Katia'

d in, holding something. It was a small, white rabbit. Its fur was matted with what

giggled, her eyes bright with malicious g

bbit looked terrified, it

You're so good with animals, aren't you? So empathetic. Why don't you... comfort it?" She

voice cold. "Kiss it. Lick it. Make it feel loved."

d humiliation. This was... grotesque. I clutched the rabbit instinctively,

? Or is it that you only care about yourself?" She grabbed my jaw, forcing my hea

g animal-it was too much. A wave of nausea washed over me. My hands shook. I trie

ear tracing a path down my c

snatched the rabbit from my grasp, tossing it carelessly to one

ody shaking, the phantom touch of their cruelty lin

e living room, weeping hysterically, her arm bandaged. Sh

hing into his arms. "It was Elna! Sh

d, his face a mask of concern. He

er voice muffled against his chest. "She said I was trying to replace her, that I

aling a deep scratch on her ar

blazed with fury.

She was muttering about how she wished I was

hands. "Mr. Crawford, sir, I heard... I heard Miss Elna raising her voice. She seemed ve

loyal to the Crawfords, always had be

at me, standing frozen in the doorway, my torn dress barely covering