Hazel crumbled onto the side of the road as the silence wrapped around her like a heavy blanket. The dam she had held back burst, and her sobs spilled into the quiet night.
The moonlight poured over her, its cold brilliance amplifying the ache in her heart.
——
Before tonight, she had clung to the belief that Ambrose was different.
They had grown up side by side, their bond unshaken, and their relationship officially sealed when they turned eighteen.
Ambrose Wright, born into a distinguished family of scholars, carried himself with effortless grace, his charm and refinement setting him apart.
As the heir to the Wright legacy, he exuded a maturity that set him apart from his peers.
In their ten years together, not once had they quarreled. Ambrose treated Hazel with tenderness and indulgence that bordered on devotion, as though he were the steady, protective older brother she could always rely on.
He showered her with gestures that spoke louder than words, lavish bouquets that filled entire car trunks, glittering jewels piled in velvet cases, and an unwavering willingness to grant her every wish.