To Love Is To Hate

sa

isoriented by the unfamiliar ceiling above me before realizing I was in Saint's roo

on my calves were healing nicely. The ointment Sa

beaming. "Saint, I've chosen a good day for your w

odded. "

table, hoping he'd get the hint. His eyes darkened

eement yesterday. We'll be divorced in a year. There's

he pulled back. I turned to John, forcing a smile. "

s eager for us to tie the knot. "Just don't

bout it later,

the living room sofa, flipping through a financial magazine. I remembered the ointment and decid

on your wrist," I pointed

ng up, he repl

want to keep t

up, his gaze cool.

want to keep a scar, especially a bite mark?

t, I tripped. My body lurched forward, and I braced for a fall, except I didn't

body and the solid feel of his chest unnervingly close.

ice was low, his breat

s arms, flustered.

used. I glanced back just in time to see the butler, standing in the doorway,

hake off the lingering sensation of his breath.

ional Dancing Contest. Please prepare for the

orgotten about

ars of dance training, and she knew I'd learned dancing as a child. Pretending to be a supportive sister, she insi

t. Ada easily took first place, while I deliberately danced below my skill level, thinking it wo

d on my lips. I'd passed the preliminaries too, despite Ada's

ut one I was ready for. I planned my routine careful

As I walked backstage, I spotted Ada and Robin, chatting away. Beside them

cold. Let's see how th

concern. "Lisa, what happened last time was my fault. You sho

ng her. She chose to cut ties with the Giovanni family. I

curled my lips. "I didn't die out th

arly not used to this version of me. I wasn'

"Lisa, if you admit your mistake and come home now, the Gio

dly. There was no point wasting mo

my path. "What is this attitude?

ed me like a sister, and now he

mily. You have no right to ask for my respec

y, but before he could respond

t, that look would've crushed me. I would've wondered w

," I said, my

He was used to me calling him "big brother," always trailing b

left the Giovanni family, did the

out the Yves family. He wasn't concerned about why I left or

t all made sense now. They wanted to use me as a connection to the Y

voice flat. "That has n

ponse, I turned and walked

ake tears. "Trent, Robin, why was Lisa so cold

ou accused her wrongly, it didn't hurt her. If s

. "Don't worry, Ada. I bought you a new spor

e smiled. "Thank you, Trent, Robin!

talent, Ada, first place is a given! You

ges arrived backstage. They greeted the G

inaries was outstanding," one judge said.

but I could see the

er. "Professor Karen McCormick has a

med. "She wasn't supposed to come until the

She wanted to see them in person," the staff member explained.

ning this competition meant becoming her disciple, a dream Ada had ch

"That exceptional tal

! Ada was first in the prelim

If Mrs. McCormick was here for her, th