Page 130 of Sinful Lies

Or at least, that’s what people said when they actually had one.

I tucked my hands under the table, pressing my nails into my palm until it stung, trying to ground myself. The ache inmy chest wasn’t playing fair, squeezing harder with every laugh, every smile, every toast around me.

Two deep breaths in. Two out.

I could do this.

Just blend in, Jade.

But, of course, the universe hated me.

Because when I dared to glance up, Angelo was watching me.

Great.Of all the people to notice, it had to have been him.

His hand found mine under the table, before I could yank it away, his fingers wrapped around mine.

“What’s wrong?”

I swallowed hard, staring at him, trying to force the words out, but they stuck in my throat.

No way was I breaking down here. Not in front of him.

But then my chest clenched again, my vision started to swim, and—no, no, no, not now, Jade, come on!

He let go and stood up. “I invite you all to the ballroom.The Nutcrackerawaits, along with some early gifts for the children.”

The room erupted into movement, chairs scraping, glasses clinking, everyone laughing and talking as they made their way out.

No one had noticed me, and I should’ve been relieved.

Buthehad.

Of course, he had.

“Jade—”

I didn’t wait.

The chair screeched against the floor as I bolted for the window, hands fumbling with the latch. My fingers shook, desperate, and when it finally gave, the night air hit me like a slap—icy, unforgiving.

I climbed through without thinking, drawn to the crash of the waves like a moth to flames, knowing they’d burn, but unable to stop.

The sand swallowed my heels the moment I landed, clinging and dragging me down with every step. Anger flared, and I yanked them off, hurling them somewhere behind me into the shadows.

Barefoot, I ran.

The beach shifted underfoot, treacherous and endless, until freezing water swallowed my feet and climbed to my ankles. It cut through me, as relentless as knives, but I didn’t stop. Not until my legs gave out, sending me to my knees, the shoreline’s cold rush soaking through my dress and skin alike.

My chest clenched, air slipping through in shallow, useless gulps. I clawed at it, but each breath was a betrayal, jagged and fleeting. The world blurred—edges smudged with shadow, darker with each blink.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t fight it.

My body was turning on me, every muscle locking up as fear roared louder than the ocean.

I dug my nails into my thighs, anything to ground myself, but it wasn’t enough. Darkness crept closer, heavy and unrelenting, until the thought struck like lightning—this was it. This was how it ended.

Waves kissed my legs, cold and cruel, as if mocking my struggle. My lungs burned, ribs caving under invisible hands, and all I could do was surrender to the pull of the void.

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