BELLE

I fell asleep on the bathroom floor that night. It was a bit demeaning to sleep on the cold, marble floor, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I didn’t want to face Grayson. I groaned in pain when I awoke, then rolled over and sat up so that my aching back was against the cabinets. I sighed when I finally stood and saw what I looked like in the mirror.

My hair was going in every direction, and tear stains streaked my face and neck. I’d spent most of the night silently crying, not wanting Grayson to hear me but also not being able to stop myself from...