Chapter 9 Cracks ! [] My fiancé hit me . Three minutes ago , I had been daydreaming about how to decorate our ridiculously expensive penthouse apartment , where every corner looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine . Two minutes ago , I accidentally broke a mug . Then , Rhys slapped me across the face - hard . [ ] My cheek burned like it had been seared by fire . It took a full thirty seconds before my brain restarted , slowly piecing reality back together . " Are you fucking insane ? " I gritted my teeth , forcing the words through the cracks of my jaw . Rhys's lips were pressed into a cold , tight line , his expression dark and resolute . " It was just a mug with Katherine's face on it ," he said , like my reaction was an overblown performance , not the result of something horrifying he had just done .. You have got to be fucking kidding me . " I stared at him in disbelief , chest heaving as rage and humiliation churned violently inside me , ready to explode . For half a second - just half - something like guilt flickered across his face . Then it vanished , consumed by a storm of fury . No , you're the insane one ! " he roared . 1 already agreed to marry you - what more do you want ? Katherine's gone , but you still broke that mug on purpose ! " His voice trembled with anger . " She was your sister ! She had to leave because of you ! And now you're jealous of her ? You won't rest until every trace of her is erased , will you ? " The hatred in his eyes cut deeper than the slap . [ ] My cheek throbbed . My hand was still bleeding . But nothing hurt more than my heart I forced myself to unclench my jaw and made one last attempt to explain . " It wasn't me . I never asked her to leave . ] Technically speaking , I understood why someone might say that . Katherine had left behind a letter . In it , she said she'd seen my diary , realized I had a crush on Rhys , and decided to let go , " to let him be yours . " I don't think she ever understood that a diary meant privacy . I never meant for anyone to read it , but not only did she read it - she told everyone . No one cared about the pain I felt when my secret was exposed . I was dragged out , nailed to a pillar of shame , forced to pay for her so - called notile sacrifice . To my family , it was like I'd been bumped up to the starting lineup out of nowhere , replacing the golden girl - I should've been Crateful . Even if Khys had stabbed me in the gut , they'd still find a way to excuse it It was as if my parents had always hated me . No matter how much better I dial than Katherine , they always saw me as bitter , as onrone who couldn't protect her fragile pride The seating pain on my cheek intensified . My fingers clenched tightly around the engagement ring . A wave of heat - anger , humiliation , resentment - rose in my throat . Hot tears welled in my eyes , blurring my vision . I blinked fast , wiping them away before they could fall I would not cry . I would never show weakness in front of him . ] I took a heavy step toward the door , struggling to move . I had to get out of there , or I would completely fall apart . Whatever shred of dignity I had left - I couldn't let it be destroyed in front of this man . [ ] Rhys suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked me back . " Clean it up . " I looked up at him in disbelief , needing to confirm I'd heard him right " You broke the mug . . You clean up the pieces . " His voice was icy , absolute . [ ] He had to be insane . [ ] " No. " I lifted my chin and spat the word without an ounce of compromise . His face tightened , jaw clenched . " You sure you want to do this ? " [ ] Yes . I said no . My eyes were red , but they blazed with defiance as I stared him down without flinching . If love meant I had to grind my self - respect into the dirt , then it was worthless to me . The air between us was laut enough to snap . I could almost hear it crackling . The fury in his eyes was an uncontrollable blaze , threatening to consume me . And beneath that fire , I saw something else - disbelief . The once docile little lamb had bared her fangs He took a step closer , menace radiating from him . Last chance . If you don't obey me , then we- are over , " I finished for him , cold and final . [ ] Shock froze his face . For a moment , the air went still . He hadn't expected me to actually say it . ] While he was caught in that moment of confusion , I wrenched my arm free from his grip . The taste of freedom hadn't yet bloomed in my chest when he snapped back to life , grabbing my arm again with brutal force Now . [ ] I spun around without hesitation and raised my hand - Smack ! A resounding slap landed hard across Rhys's handsome , arrogant face . The air froze again , thick with silence . My palm tingled slightly , but it brought a rush of fierce , unprecedented satisfaction . Rhys staggered back a few steps , his eyes wide with shock and disbelief - not from the pain , but from a world turned upside down . He never thought I would dare . After all , I had once loved him so deeply I lowered my hand , lifted my chin , and looked calmly at his stunned expression . I gave him a faint smile . " Now we're even . " ] Without waiting another moment , I dragged my feet away from that suffocating hell . ] If I stayed even one more second , I would break down . I'd rather choke on iny own tears than let him see them fall Then - thud - I High heels and emotional chaos are a terrible match . Pain shot through my palms and knees as they scraped against the hard marble . Blood surged out instantly , but I barely felt it . ] I got up , grabbed my purse , and kept walking . [ ] Home . I just wanted to go home . Away from all of this . Away from him . Like a woman fleeing the scene of a crime , I burst out of the building - only to slam into a wall of muscle and the intoxicating scent of expensive cologne . I looked up - and saw sharp , sculpted features with an with an aura so commanding it could silence a room . He looked like the kind of man who , if you pissed him off , wouldn't just ruin your life - he'd erase your entire existence . Unfortunately , that only made him more attractive . For a second , I wished he would throw me over his shoulder and carry me to his lair - my face flushed red instantly . If this were a porno , the camera angle would be an absolute disaster . [ ] I snapped myself back to reality . ] " Sorry , " I mumbled and rushed into the elevator of my apartment building | Back upstairs , I rummaged through my bag . My heart sank No keys . Of course . The universe had clearly declared today The End of Mira Day . Frustration and helplessness surged in my chest , I kicked off my heels and shook the doorknob violently . It didn't help but I needed to let it out . Why did everyone always choose Katherine ?! Hadn't I done enough ? I collapsed against the wall , sliding down to the cold floor as sobs tore from my throat . The tears came in a flood , impossible to stop . Just as I was nearly choking on my own cries , a voice - low , smooth , like black velvet - cut through the air behind me . [ ] " Your key . " Fury sparked in my veins . Why did someone always in Annoyed , I turned , ready to glare - only to freeze . [ ] interrupt me just when I was about to get it all our ? Through tear - blurred eyes , I saw him again . The man I had bumped into downstairs - the one who looked like he had stepped out of a Renaissance painting " Your key fell , " he said , raising an eyebrow as his gaze landed on the scattered contents of my purse . That's probably why you couldn't find it I stared at the key resting in his elegant hand , my face flushing so hot it could've lit a match . I snatched it from him and fumbled to unlock the door , stumbling inside without a word It wasn't until my back hat the door that I realized - I hadn't even thanked him . [ ] Great job , Mira . You alsolute idiot || Hesitating , I crept toward the peephole . Through that tiny lens , I saw him calmly turn , unlock the door directly across the hall , and stroll inside . He lived across from me ? He must've just moved in . With a face like that - and that aura - there's no way I wouldn't have noticed before . Wait , Mira . What are you doing ? You're seriously letting a hot new neighbor n make you forget the hell Rhys just put you through ? || No. Absolutely not . All men are trash . Always . how hard I I squeezed my eyes shut , trying to steady my racing heartbeat , reminding myself not to be so stupid again . But no matter how hi tried , that sculpted face kept flashing through my mind . I needed ice - for my racing pulse , and more urgently , for the stinging pain on my cheek Just as I forced myself up to head to the kitchen , my phone rang , brill and sharp One glance at the screen made my whole body go cold . ] Mom . I couldn't ignore the call . If I did , she would destroy my y career without hesitation . She was absolutely capable of it . ] The moment I picked up , her voice sliced through the air - cold and merciless . " Mira , you must be insane ! How dare you do something so disgraceful to Rhys ! You apologize to him right now or you're no longer daughter ! " I opened my mouth to explain , stunned - but she hung up before I could get a single word out . I gripped my phone tightly . Why was it that no matter how hard I tried , I still couldn't earn even a sliver of their love ? And Katherine - she never had to do anything , yet she was their perfect , precious jewel Enough . I thought if I worked hard enough , my family , my fiance - they would love me . [ ] But that's never going to happen . ] I have to reclaim the self respect I lost long ago . [ ] I have to break off this engagement with Rhys - no matter the consequences . [ ]