The Devil's Ember

rn as he spoke through gritted t

ne. As he dragged me away from the reception hall, I glanced back at

and I felt mixed up and worried. His hand, once ge

asked, sounding really mad. "W

ugh I had an uneasy feeling. "Dad, I'm hurt," I

s voice sharp. "What pettiness are y

our expectations. But not this time." My voice shook as I went on, "Jaxon cheated on me

ght get it, that he'd feel sorry for me. The injustice that

n still marry him. Men have lots o

s hung in the air like he didn't care at all. It was like a punch in my heart, realizing he didn't

ever lower myself to be with

an't do that. Don't you care about my well being? Do you think it's

ession. "It's for the greater good. You're not being selfis

tion building up. "No, Dad, I

Your loss then. Aurora will marry him in your

lization of the depths he was willing to sink to for his own ga

r I'd throw a fuss, you'd just hand it over to Aurora. Let her take your room, let her have the bett

nor did he look surprised when I tol

't you, father? You knew, didn't you? You knew Jaxon was cheatin

ceit, and the crushing realization that my own father had played a part in my suffering. The intensit

a prince since you were the one he proposed to first. If he wanted Aurora it would have been a added gift. It was hi

enough to believe that the man I loved would be mine and mine alone. Prince or not, I expected it to be him and me.

m a businessman, Ember. My decisions are driven by what's best for the business,

regard mingling with the weight of his betrayal. I had laid bare m

ng with a mixture of anger and grief, "she would

there, stunned, my skin stinging from the impact. His spiteful words followed, a bitter reminder of the divide

ty of the situation. I was alone, abandoned by the ve

building, you won't like what I will do to you

n my heart was matched by th

eavy, a symbol of a broken promise, and my heart ached. I couldn't believe he had

pe, I collided with a stranger. His strong arms reached out to steady me, and when ou

e asked, concern

and confusion. Without a word, I pulled away and continued

the darkness that ha

and despair. I forcefully wiped away the evidence of my pain, as though erasing those tears could s

deluge of emotions that matched my

glass of wine t

se mine. I looked up at the sk

stepped through the threshold, the aroma of food and the ch

f and ordered a

ul life" I said t

th radiating through me, I

opting for the stronger variety. The evening had taken unexpected turns.

this life, this earth

k, so when I jump I wo

companied by a gentle tap on the shoulder. I turned to see a