Page 146 of Vendetta Vows

I feel strangely detached as Hannah continues talking. Her words blend together into background noise while my mind tries to process what's happening.

"It's fine," I repeat automatically. "Everything's fine."

Seven years of hiding. Seven years of looking over my shoulder. Seven years of being invisible.

All gone in a single day.

First Tamara announcing my real name at the reception, and now Sienna is broadcasting it to her millions of followers.

The universe has a twisted sense of humor.

"Fine? How can you say it's fine? There's nothing fine about this! She's literally exposing you to the world right now!"

I've been so careful. Changed my name, my appearance, my entire life. I've been a ghost for seven years until now.

All because of a jealous actress and a vindictive woman, both of whom are furious at me because I took what they both thought belonged to them.

A small giggle escapes my lips at the absurdity of it all.

The giggle turns into a full laugh. I can't help it. It bubbles up from somewhere deep inside me, uncontrollable and slightly hysterical.

I'm laughing so hard that tears are streaming down my face. But I can't stop laughing even if I wanted to.

"Aurora, what's going on?" Hannah sounds genuinely alarmed now.

My laughter rises, getting higher and wilder with each second. I can't stop. It's like something inside me has snapped, some invisible thread that's been holding me together all these years has finally given way.

I laugh until my throat burns, until I can taste salt on my lips from the tears streaming down my face.

Slowly, the laughter begins to change.

The sound twists, catching in my throat until it's not laughter anymore but deep, guttural sobs that tear through my chest.

"Oh god," I choke out, sliding down against the wall until I hit the floor. My knees pull tight against my chest, arms wrapping around them like I might fly apart if I let go. "It's happening. It's really happening."

My chest heaves as I struggle to breathe through the sobs. Each inhale feels like razor blades, and each exhale like surrender.

Gradually, my sobs begin to quiet, fading into hitched breaths and occasional hiccups. In the silence that follows, I become aware of the phone still clutched in my hand, Hannah still waiting patiently on the other end.

"Aurora?" Her voice is soft, tentative. "What are you going to do?"

"Ruslan will protect me," I say when I finally get my voice back under control.

"How, Aurora?" Hannah sounds skeptical. "How can he protect you with this information just now out in the public?"

I take a deep breath. My heart pounds against my ribs as I consider what to say next. Hannah deserves the truth after everything she's done for me, but the words catch in my throat.

"Hannah, there's something I need to tell you."

"What?" Suspicion edges into her voice. "What happened?"

"I married him."

Silence stretches between us like a taut wire. One second. Two. Three.

"You WHAT?" Hannah's voice rises so sharply I have to pull the phone away from my ear. "Tell me you're joking. Tell me this is some fucked-up prank because there's no way in hell you actually?—"

"I did." My fingers twist nervously. "Today."

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