othing like the wedd

about her life had g

she wore a simple white dress her mother had picked out that morning. It wasn't extravagant

k suit, looking every bit as composed as ever and as

, but Ivy barel

Commitmen

been engaged to the man

s marrying hi

s felt strange leaving her lip

ain, as though there wasn't

onto her finger, his touch was ge

id with a polite smile.And just

tly beside her. Neither of them said much, but Ivy knew this w

edding she'd dr

o Anthony's pent

em tried to f

Ivy was

e the energy f

cked the front door and stepped

w," he said. "Take al

ound the spac

ng was i

owers in the

arranged

d been prepared for her long be

ected her

should have

reminded her how

oom upstairs," Anthony said

no

abou

the other end o

blin

dy arranged s

d be more comfo

ce meeting him, Ivy di

ou," she

before disappeari

s pa

efused

d her eyes, she hear

because of wha

to sleep and wander

r brushed aga

dn't

tu

doorway holding two

id. "I wasn't sure

epted t

nk y

, neither o

wasn't unc

... pe

ve made another mistake

s arms against th

ered the s

at him in

u h

ne who barely kno

mained on t

heavy thin

tudie

me she'd heard unce

r for dinner tomorrow,"

stif

will be

es

ooked

ow if I can

t face hi

ds were

d something res

anced

you doing

smiled

reed you'd stop

ver a

ckled

d surpri

expected hi

ose you

ed before a

tell

ilent for sev

ly he

deserved what Et

s not

kno

lded h

poke to me fo

trying

knitted

oes tha

ghed

taying away

r than

ze met

an getting

of the

etched quietl

rstand you,"

on't h

the pr

d at her for

y, he took a sin

to invade

or her to kno

vy

e was so

trust has b

ered he

t ask f

ked bac

earn

tened painfull

rything fell apart, Ivy foun

a l

steppe

try to get

d y

ave work t

no

the balcony d

tho

es

hank

ile crosse

almost as qui

night

dnig

d at her for

y, he lift

thought he was g

s hand stop

lightly before falli

ut a qui

raid," he

ered he

n't yo

ettled be

nt, Anthony

wou

caught he

ng to convince

ly unde

ernight," he said quietly. "Tru

never l

l wa

long as it takes t

nk y

e touched An

t have to

reply, Anthony'

en he looked

expression disap

e said. "I hav

o the living room a

ot meant

door hadn't cl

hony said

pa

er to call this

frow

he tal

efore Anthony spoke again,

n she's already

ightened aro

e

was

r, the calm composure she'd grown

mly. "She can't f

ne wen

seconds before slowly slipping

round, the expression on

tro

ersation had n

the city before he notice

ion echoed th

ny hiding... and why