He hung up and looked at me again, his eyes
cold. “I’m sorry, Jenny. Ashley’s mom saved
my life. I have to do this for her.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you.”
My voice shook. “Justin, you can’t do this to
me!”
Chapter 2
Г
Justin raised the chair and brought it down on
my hands.
“AAAAH!” The pain shot through me. I
screamed.
My fingers were a bloody mess.
I stared at my hands. The pain was nothing
compared to the pain in my heart.
Destroyed.
It was all destroyed.
My hands, my mom’s dream. Gone, thanks to
Justin.
Tears streamed down my face.
<
Justin grabbed me.
I leaned against his chest, but his voice was
icy. “I’m sorry, Jenny. Forgive me.
“I know this isn’t fair. But Ashley’s mom died
saving me. If she gets into the orchestra, I’ll
have paid her back.”
“Paid her back?” I laughed, no humor in it.
“Justin, you’re paying Ashley back by hurting
me?”
I pushed him away, holding up my bloody
hands. “Do you know how hard I worked for
tomorrow?”
My eyes must have scared him. He looked
guilty for a second.
<
Then he got annoyed. “Enough! This is
Ashley’s dream! Her mom’s dying wish!”
I was done with this guy.
“How can you destroy me for her dream?”
Justin didn’t care. “It’s okay, Jenny. I know
you’re upset. I’ll make it up to you. Once
Ashley’s in the orchestra, I’ll get you set up.
You won’t have to worry about money again.”
I wanted to throw up.
I took a deep breath. “I don’t want your
money. We’re done. I’m breaking up with
you.”
“Are you serious?” Justin’s face went hard. “|
<
don’t accept that.”
He glared at me. “I’m letting this go this time,
Jenny. But if you say that again, I’m breaking
up with you.”
He stormed off.
I sank to the floor, crying.
Chapter 3
Justin and I met in college.
He saved me from getting hit by a car when I
wasn’t paying attention.
I looked up and saw his face, handsome and
a little cold.
<
I fell for him hard because he saved my life.
He agreed to be with me, but I slowly started
to realize someone was more important to
him.
Ashley. His childhood friend.
Every time Ashley called, Justin would drop
everything and run to her.
He even locked me on the roof to keep me
from beating Ashley in the piano competition.
I missed the competition and got a fever.
Justin told me he did it to repay a debt.
Ashley’s mom was the housekeeper for
Justin’s family.
She lived with them since she was a child.
During a fire, Ashley’s mom saved Justin, and
she didn’t make it.
Justin’s family raised Ashley and treated her
like their own.
They loved and spoiled her.
And Justin would do anything for her.
Like now, he broke my fingers to keep me out
of the auditions.
Why should my dreams be sacrificed for
Justin’s debt?
Whenever I asked about him and Ashley, he’d
get mad and tell me she was just a sister.
