Page 13 of A Sinful Gravity

Then he looked at me. Expression unchanged, but something in his eyes tightened.

"Cassian," I started, voice compressed, "she—"

"Enough."

His voice was low but just loud enough for the surrounding circle to hear, just ambiguous enough in its target that any observer could interpret it however they wanted.

Cassian said nothing more. He walked past me straight to Sloane on the ground, looked down at her pitiful state, and helped her up, then turned to me, the temperature in his eyes dropping to absolute zero.

"Let me explain," I said. "She just—"

"Explain what?" Cassian whipped around. "Explain how your jealousy led you to destroy a woman's reputation in public? Is this Crawford family breeding?"

His words were low and rapid, meant only for the three of us. I clearly saw Sloane flash me a provocative smile from Cassian's arms.

"She's acting! Cassian, it's not like that..." I grew more desperate, voice shaking uncontrollably. This feeling of being misunderstood by the entire world had me trembling.

Then Sloane lifted her face, tears streaming, expression wounded and bewildered. "I... I just accidentally wrinkled your dress, I really didn't mean to, Mrs. King, I—"

"There are cameras," I cut her off firmly. "Security can pull the footage. Two minutes to clear this—"

Before I could finish, Cassian silenced me with a gesture.

"This ends now. You owe Sloane an apology."

"I didn't touch her! She's acting! Cassian, believe me..." I reached for his sleeve like a drowning person grabbing for the last piece of driftwood.

"Enough, Luna." He cut me off impatiently and stepped aside, avoiding my touch.

In that moment, the guests' whispers drowned me like a tide. I could see the undisguised mockery in those society women's eyes, contempt in the men's.

I felt like I was burning, shame scorching from my feet to my skull.

"I'll take her," Cassian said without looking at me again. He supported Sloane and headed for the exit without a backward glance. "Go home yourself. Don't let me see you again, at least not tonight."

"Cassian! Stop!" I lunged forward frantically. I didn't know what I wanted to do. Instinct just screamed to stop him, to make him turn and see the desperation in my eyes.

But before I touched his arm, he jerked it away.

The force was brutal—like shaking off something filthy and parasitic.

The momentum sent me crashing hard onto the cold marble floor, my palm landing on the shattered wine glass remnants. Searing pain exploded instantly.

Cassian paused but didn't turn back. He escorted Sloane out and disappeared through the revolving doors.

The whole world hit mute in that moment. I lay on the ground, watching that sapphire ring land in a pool of my blood, flashing with icy light.

The surrounding laughter seemed to fade. After that extreme pain came a deathly silence.

I stared at the doorway in disbelief. This was the man I'd gambled my dignity on believing. This was my supposed "one and only."

My heart hurt so much it went numb. Mechanically, I stood up.

I didn't wipe the blood from my hand or acknowledge those spectating eyes.

I walked out of the ballroom step by step. Night wind dried the tear tracks on my face.

I felt something inside me die completely.