All That Was Lush Is Lost

I pressed my lips together, staring at the document Kurt had sent. It was the divorce agreement he'd dug up, all ready to be printed and signed.

I was done with Charlie.

…

The next afternoon, I got a call from the competition organizers. Declan and Dylan had won first place, and I was expected to attend the award ceremony.

I hardly ever went out. And if I did, I steered clear of crowds.

I stood there for a long time, feeling torn.

They'd had so many milestones over the years, and I hadn't been there for any of them. As I was afraid they'd be let down again, I threw on a cap and a mask before stepping outside.

…

The moment I arrived at the awards hall, I spotted one of the organizers by the entrance. He noticed me right away and started walking over.

"I was told to come to the award ceremony. My kids are in it—"

Before I could finish, he gave me a sharp, suspicious look. His stare made my stomach twist.

"Which kids are yours? All the parents are already inside. You need to leave now, or I'm calling the police."

I froze. Whatever I'd meant to say died in my throat. Suddenly, I heard Kelly's voice.

"I'll step out for a moment," she said.

Across from her stood Declan and Dylan.

She strutted over, eyes gleaming with open contempt.

"Wow. You've actually got the guts to show your face? I'm surprised people aren't running the other way."

Kelly's eyes raked across my face, slow and deliberate.

"None of your business," I muttered.

"Lucia, do you really think you're still the beloved Gladstone heiress everyone used to worship? You're nothing but a sad, ruined mess. The funny thing? Your face could've been saved.

"But I wanted that first place from the modeling competition, so he made sure they used something that would ruin it completely. Hey, at least now you stand out.

"The more disgusting you look, the more it proves how much he loves me."

My composure snapped in an instant. My face wasn't just a career-ending disaster—it was the one thing that had haunted me more than anything else.

For a blinding second, all I wanted was to lunge at her and drag us both into the dark. But before I could move, she stepped back and slammed into the wall.

I didn't even have time to register what was happening before a brutal slap knocked me off my feet. I hit the floor hard, blood bursting from my mouth. My cap flew off, and my mask hung from one ear.

Charlie's furious voice cut through the air. "You got a death wish? You think you can touch someone under my protection?"

I ignored the blood pooling at the corner of my mouth and fumbled with my mask, trying to hook it back over my ear.

Across from me, Charlie was beside Kelly, examining the cut on her forehead. His face had gone soft, all concern.

"So what if I did?" I retorted.

I shoved myself upright, smearing the blood on my hands across my clothes without a second thought. My eyes locked onto his.

I was thankful I hadn't started crying yet.