Police ! Nobody move ! " " Chloe ! Ava , let her go ! " " You don't love me , Caleb ? Fine ! Then none of us get to be happy ! We can all die together ! Aaaah- " A cacophony of sounds exploded around me : a gunshot , a scream , a choked sob . Something warm and wet splattered across my eyelids . I forced my eyes open . Caleb was holding me , shielding me . A long , deep gash was carved into the side of nis neck , blood pouring from the wound . Beside us , Ava lay on the floor , a dark hole in her chest . My small blade was still clutched in her hand . Her eyes were wide open , staring at nothing . ' The room's soaked in gasoline ! We have to get out , now ! " a voice yelled . Police officers rushed to help us up . But as I turned , I saw my grandmother , now completely encircled by flames . A strangled cry escaped my throat . I had no strength left , but I began to crawl toward her , my body moving on pure instinct . Ethan , ignoring the officers ' warnings , scrambled to my side . 10/14 13:18 Chinter 2 " Chloe ! Go ! You have to get out of here ! I swear to you , I will get her out ! I promise ! " A flaming section of the ceiling collapsed . I was being dragged , kicking and screarning , out of the house and into the cool night air . Thick , black smoke billowed from the doorway . My heart felt like it was burning up with the house . " Grandma ! " The world spun , a chaotic blur of sirens and shouting . And then , everything went dark . When I opened my eyes , Maya was there , her face puffy and tear - stained . The moment she saw I was awake she burst into a fresh round of tears , mixed with laughter and curses . " Chloe! Oh , thank God , you're awake ! I was so scared ! I told myself if you died , I was going with you ! That stupid , evil bitch Ava- " I quickly put a hand over her mouth . My throat was raw , but I managed to whisper . " Grand ... ma ? " " Oh ! Oh , she's okay ! She's fine! A little shaken up , you know , for her age . But she's okay . She actually woke up before you did . She's in the room right next door . " A wave of relief washed over me , so powerful it left me weak . But then another thought surfaced . " And Ethan ? Caleb ? " Maya's fingers tightened on the crisp white hospital sheets . She wouldn't meet my eyes . " They're alive , " she said quickly . " The bad ones always are , right ? They're not going anywhere . " 14 I didn't press her . I knew Maya . If she was being evasive , it meant someone had told her to be . There was no point in forcing it out of her . " Maya , " I whispered , " can you help me see Grandma ? " She had been deeply traumatized . When we went to her room , she was still asleep , muttering fitfully . " Chloe run ... Don't hurt my Chloe . " My own tears started again , hot and silent . I leaned against her bed , my body shaking with sobs I couldn't contain . Maya stood beside me , her hand on my shoulder , saying nothing . On the day I was discharged , she finally handed me a thick envelope . " This is from Caleb , " she said , her voice hesitant . " He asked me to give it to you . " I took it without a word . 11/14 1318 " So , you're really not going back to the Vance house ? " she asked softly . No. Without my mom , it was never really my home . I'm going to take Grandma Althea abroad . " managed a small smile . " She connected me with a master couturier in Paris . He's agreed to take me on as an apprentice . It'll be good for both of us . A change of scenery . ' Maya didn't try to stop me . She just pulled me into a fierce hug . Whatever you want to do , I support you . But don't you forget you have me here in Northwood , okay ? You're not alone . And you have to promise you'll come back and visit . " nodded against her shoulder , my throat tight . It felt like my fierce , impulsive best friend had grown up overn- ght . On the flight to Paris , after I had tucked a blanket around my sleeping grandmother , I finally pulled out the etter . The handwriting wasn't Caleb's . His was always so sharp and confident . This was shaky and distorted , like it was written by a child with a weak hand . It took me a long time to decipher the words . Chloe , just occurred to me that I haven't written you a letter in almost ten years . It's ironic . When we were kids watching old movies , I used to dream of writing our wedding vows by hand . Man and wife , till death do us part . It seemed so simple then . Chloe , I am so sorry . think , for a very long time , I forgot the promise I made when I was fifteen . It's easy to say the word ' love . ' A poy's promises are cheap . But please believe me , the fifteen - year - old Caleb meant every word . always assumed we would end up together . It felt inevitable , so I thought the details didn't matter . I loved rou . I knew it . I thought that was enough . So , Chloe , I am sorry . Sorry to the you of the last decade , and sorry to the fifteen - year - old boy I used to be . I vas so wrong , about everything . But I was lucky . On the day we were supposed to lose each other forever , in he middle of that fire , I found the heart and the courage of the boy who loved you . I found it again . Chloe , I wish you happiness . I wish you strength . I wish you a life full of passion and success . And I wish that ou never again meet a fool like me . Goodbye , Chloe . Tucked inside the letter was a stock transfer certificate , already damp with a tear I hadn't realized I'd shed . It wasn't from Caleb . It was from Ethan . He had transferred seventy percent of his shares in the Vance family company to me . There was no note , no explanation . Just the document . I didn't need the money . My mother had left me more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life . But I took it . It was my father's legacy , after all . And Maya was right . It's foolish not to take what you're owed . 12/14 13:19 1817 I gently wiped my face and looked out the window . The sun was brilliant , cutting through the clouds and Muminating everything I felt for my own heartbeat , then leaned my head against my grandmother's shoulder She stirred , patting my back gently in her sleep , as if soothing a child . And I thought , this is enough . This is good . 15 Three years after I moved to Paris , I graduated from my apprenticeship . One day , my mentor came back to the atelier , frustrated . " I just met with the most difficult client , " she sighed " An American . From your part of the country , actually . " I was intrigued . She showed me the file on her tablet . And there it was . A photograph of a wedding dress I knew better than my own reflection . A large wine stain on the bodice . And on the hem , a scattering of dark , brownish spots of blood . " Chloe , you won't believe their offer . Enough to commission a hundred new gowns , " my mentor said , shaking her head . " But they don't want a new one . They insist on having this specific dress restored . Apparently they ' ve already approached every top designer in the States . No one will touch it . " She lowered her voice . " My colleague who met with them a month ago said it was very strange . The clients ... she thinks they were both disabled . " " One of them couldn't speak , and his right hand trembled uncontrollably . The other was covered from head to toe on a hot day , but she could see the edges of severe burn scars around his eyes ... " She looked at me . " They must be famous , to be so wealthy . Do you know them ? " I shook my head , a small smile on my lips as I looked away . The wounds of the past once consumed me . They left me broken , anxious , and desperate . I hated that life , and I hated the people who created it for me . But I have been putting the pieces of myself back together . Now , I have work that I love . And I have family who loves me . The betrayals , the neglect , the cruelty ... they are no longer the center of my story . They are no longer import- ant . I will not look back . And I no longer hate . As for when they will be able to let go ... I don't know . And it no longer has anything to do with me . " Chloe ! Your grandmother is here with snacks ! Ooh , are those lemon tarts ? " I turned . My grandmother was standing in the doorway , leaning on her cane . She smiled , picked up the most 13/14 13:19 Chapter 2 beautiful tart from the box , and held it out , just for me . And I thought , I am finally the one who is chosen . The one who is cherished . It's good . It's so good .