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The one word breaks through the fog of anger, and I blink as I let go of Malice. He doesn’t flinch as he smooths out his jacket and then disappears into the crowd. That’s when Elsy is revealed. She was standing behind him watching this happen, and the look on her face isn’t something I’m used to seeing.
Disappointment? Hatred? Hurt?
“Elsy, I…” I start to say, but she holds up her hand for me to be quiet.
She’s standing there in a golden ball gown that’s covered in glitter and lace. It sets off her soft skin and makes her look like she’s glowing. Her pink lips are exactly as I remember, and every part of me wants to pull her into my arms and kiss her. But right now, it looks like I’m the last person she wants to see.
“We should go,” my father says from behind me, but I ignore him. He squeezes my arm, but I shake it off.
“Where were you?” Her voice is so cold, nothing like my sweet Elsy. “I begged for you to talk to me.” Her voice breaks on the last word, and I want to fall to my knees and ask for forgiveness. “You just disappeared.”
There are a few people around us now, but the world could literally catch on fire and I wouldn’t notice. My entire focus has centered on the one person I love most. The only problem is, she loathes me.
“I’ll tell you everything. Just give me a minute to explain. Please,” I say, and she shakes her head.
“I gave you six years, Keaton.” Then she walks right up to me and slaps me on the cheek. It stings, not because she hurt me but because she hates me. “I’m not giving you a second more.”
With that, she turns on her heel and stomps out of the ballroom. I’m not sure which of us is more surprised by her reaction, but I know one thing for sure. The monster inside me that has been screaming to get out for the past six years is finally calm for the first time ever.
