The Betrayed Rose Rises Anew

Ware

s, a blurry haze of pain and fragmen

voice, shrill and theatrical. "She's so clum

enn's voice, anxious, laced with conc

is. And Glenn, his blind devotion to her, his complete disregard for me, sicken

in a cast, and my arm, the one Karis had caused to be cut, was bandaged. But the em

said, her voice cheerful. "Your fiancé, Mr. Christensen, has been

mouth. "He's not my fiancé," I stated, my voice

ould respond, the door swung open. Glenn. He r

cold and unfamiliar. "I was so worried. What happened? The

ol the narrative. My eyes narrowed. "What happened, Glenn?"

be ridiculous. It was an accident. Karis was jus

rying to assess my mental state, to see if I remembered anything. A flick

his web of lies. "She wanted to come visit, but I told h

and me the instigator. I remembered the way he used to defend me, to protect me

. "I'll take care of everything. Just focus on getting

I was done. Done with his lies, his manipulations, his betrayals.

the concerned lover. He brought flowers, chocolates, magazines. He talked about our future, our plans, as if

ve car and a forced smile. He took me home, but it no longer felt like

"I booked us a trip to Paris. A romantic getaway. Just

ract me with luxury. But the allure was gone. Al

award at a Juilliard ceremony. She was beaming, clutching a golden s

suppressed my talent, while she thrived. He was always so careful to keep my Juilliard attendance a secret, even from his mo

h admiration as he watched the news report. "A true prodigy. You kn

s belittling my talent, my passion, while praising he

t for me." I had said it before, to him, to myself, when he first

across his face. "That's my girl. Smart decision. Y

ey filled me with a fierce joy. He thought he was winning. He thought he ha

y," I said, my voice trembling with suppressed exci

d. "I knew you had it in you, Fae

parents. I was an orphan. But the words, her

my departure. Glenn would be out, at another one of his "bu

ps. He was back early. Too early. He looked me up and down, his gaze posse