The Ex Who Called After His Engagement

Julian yanked my hair, stepped on my calf, and shoved my head toward the floor.

A ringing filled my ears.

The sound of laughter.

And Blair's sobs, mingling with Julian's voice: "Who the hell do you think you are, daring to touch my girl!"

"Ava, did you really think you were someone special to me?"

"It was just a bet. Why did you take it so seriously?"

My world spun. My makeup was a wreck. I was a clown who had crashed a royal ball, a complete joke. Yet I still clung to that last shred of affection for him, crying as I asked.

"Why?"

"Julian."

"Why?"

I cried, clinging to his leg, refusing to let him leave.

"Didn't you say you had a surprise for me?"

"Didn't you say you liked me?"

"Why would you do this?"

"Julian."

"Why?"

I woke from the nightmare and saw the clock glowing five-thirty in the morning. I shook some pills from the bottle and swallowed them dry, then headed to the kitchen to make breakfast when the doorbell rang.

A frantic, pounding sound.

It sounded like a demon clawing its way up from hell, its hands reaching for me. The moment I opened the door…

I saw a group of women standing on my doorstep.

One of them, a woman with an exquisitely made-up face, matched the photo in the magazine. I recognized her instantly.

Julian's fiancée.

Blair.

Blair crossed her arms, her eyes raking over me.

"So you're Ava?"