The Chosen One's Cruel Game

ite leather armchair, his face beaming with pride. Before him, lined up like contestants in some twisted game show, were the

ow much these boys adore you. They've all grown into fine young men, and any on

. He looked devoted, every inch the perfect partner. The others watched me, their expressions a mix of hope and feigned brot

ry of my past life washing ove

ess. He had been so good to me, so doting. He was the perfect husband, the perfect s

rything f

eral. The house was quiet, filled with the scent of wilting flowers. Ethan found me in the

eed to continue this," he said, his voice c

"Continue what? Ethan, wh

was an act of gratitude. Your father saved my family fro

sense. "Gratitude? Y

you? Chloe, you're a nice girl, but

my father had taken in. Sophia, who was always just a little

each one a shard of glass in my heart.

phia. We made a pact. A lottery. Whoever you chose would marry you, take care of you, so the rest of us would be free

my marriage, had been decid

filling in the blanks. And the diamond necklace he gave me for our first anniversary? I later saw an identical one around Sophia' s neck. Whe

the poison of his confession. The way he always made sure Sophia had the best seat at dinner. The way his eyes followed her whe

. The subways flooded. I was trapped, water rising around me. I called Etha

a slipped and sprained her ankle. I have to take her t

, cold water filled my lungs, and the last thing I saw was the darkn

the sun shining, the calendar showing the date. The day I

den in the shadows. Liam Black. He was a Navy SEAL, a man my father had taken a liking to and invited to the family gatherin

e, one that didn' t reach my ey

ly, his own smile widening.

my voice ringing clear and stea

demeanor dropped, revealing a flicker of raw panic. Ryan and Kevin just stared, their mouths hanging open. M

His cold expression finally cracked, his eyes widening as

eir carefully constructed world.