Ariana's POV
The final nail in the coffin.
“You,” I whispered, my voice broken. “You’re. . . You’re supposed to be. . .”
“Dead?” Clara smiled wider, like she enjoyed hearing it.
My throat dried. “Everyone thought. . .”
“That’s the thing about stories,” she cut in smoothly, crouching to my level. “They never get told right.”
I flinched when she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, her touch light… but burning.
“I bet Roman told you I vanished. That he had nothing to do with it.”
She grinned, her eyes cruel. “But the truth, sweetheart? He tried to kill me.”
The words hit me like a slap. My brain screamed no, but my heart.
My heart cracked.
“You’re lying,” I whispered. “Roman would never”
Lana scoffed behind her. “He didn’t tell her the truth? Wow.”
“You poor, naive little thin
