room smelled of co

r hands lay in her lap, still trembling, still stained. Every few seconds her mind replayed the same moment, the weight of his head

s.

fifties with tired eyes and a crooked tie. He slid a pape

id, not unkindly. "From the moment y

a ruined whisper. "He asked me to hold it. He said h

put noth

She pressed her knuckles against her mouth and shook her head, hard, until the tears

for a long momen

father's body is no l

snapped

he Lin family's private physician had him removed. The family waived

y a few hours away. Nobody has even..." Her voice shat

mself. "A man that powerful dies of poison in front of the city's

e fill, numb, as if the arm belonged to someone else. The nurse labeled it, glanced at the quick scan, and murmured, "

he did not care. Han Bo, t

ghting rig above the stage, straight through the main power cable. One shot. A marksman's shot." He look

at him. "Why w

ing you cou

marble pillar, eyes on the ceiling, counting something down. But the tho

whispered. "I don't k

television bolted high on the wall. She had not asked for it.

filled the frame, a grainy still from the ballroom, her mouth open in a scream, her hair wild,

of flashing cameras, and her heart lifted, ab

sed and grave. He looked, she thought, like the man who had once promised he

th, practiced voice. "I have also made a difficult decision. Effective immediately, I am ending my engage

exploded into

something inside her go very quiet, the way a hou

len knuckle. She tugged again, harder, her breath catching on a sob, twisting until the skin tore and the ring

paper cup of water on the ta

yer came at fou

ver once looked at her with warmth. Behind him, lounging in the d

y removed from the family register. All accounts, properties, and privileges are revoked, effective immediately.

in, broken laugh. "I

of that before you killed

ing thunderstorms, trembling, because he was too proud to admit he was afraid. "Jiahao," she

crack, a hesitation, so quick she might

. "Grandfather loved you bes

ut. His eyes, she notic

n, and for the first time that night, Qingyue

ing

len and red, her hair coming loose from its pins. In one hand s

ut a word, she slipped the shoes onto Qingyue's bare, bruised feet, one

shaking so hard her teeth knocked together. "They all... Yifan, Jiahao, ev

ill small. "I know. I know you didn't. I posted your bail myself. I'm taking you out of here." H

nto her shoulde

slip the nurse had left behind. AB negative. Her fingers went still

ached out and slid th

front steps. The car was cold and smelled faintly of jasmine. Qingyue pressed her fo

mn of smoke rose from the Lin family

d it until

ered. Her breath fogged the glass.

hers and squeezed. "

er face with a trembling

thing. He said, 'Don't trust.' Then he..." She swa

Meirong's hand sti

you tonight. Yifan. Jiahao. The people who stood there and let them drag you away." She

slid down, warm and silent. "Then

od g

against the seat, her breath evening out, her finge

y asleep. Then she eased her hand free and took out h

ssage was

he in

on her cheeks, the cheap flat shoes, the tiny cut on her finger where the ri

it was

moved across

trusts me

thread, and turned the car towa