“And you’ll follow that, understood?” Father says to Izzie before looking at me. “Belle, I’m stopping by a cleaning shop on my trip. I can’t find your locket.”

“It’s in my room.”

“Then make haste and bring it to me if you’d like it shined.”

“I would.” I rush to my room and slide a hand under my bed. Struggling to reach it, I lie on my stomach and spot Gabriel’s rose.

It hasn’t wilted in the slightest.

Still very much alive, it’s spinning around in a slow circle, glowing bright red. And somehow, the bloom has grown two sizes larger since he left.

What the…

Confused, I remove the glass and tug at one of its petals. I try to tear it away, to see how this is even possible, but its stem suddenly recoils. Then it stabs my pinky finger with its thorn.

“Ouch!” I trap it once more, kissing my wound while it returns to form.

I’ll deal with you later.

“Hurry up, Belle!” My father calls.

“Coming!” I find my trinket box and pull out my locket before returning upstairs.

“Thank you.” Father snatches it from me before I can hand it to him. “This should fetch a good price.”

“What?” I reach for it, and he holds it up high. “I thought you were simply getting it shined.”

“Oh, please.” He rolls his eyes. “I should’ve taken this from you years ago.”

“Mother gifted that to me!” I say. “Give it back right now or else.”

“Or else?” He raises his eyebrow. “Or else what, Belle?”

“Give me back my goddamn locket.” I clench my fists at my side. “It’s not yours to sell.”

“It is when we need the money.” He opens the clasp and tears out the painted picture of Mother holding me in her arms. “You can have this, though. I doubt any dealer will see value in it.”

My heart falls to the floor with the photo, and I feel the sudden urge to pull out my dagger and stab him in the neck. To watch him bleed helplessly until he can no longer breathe.

As if Izzie can sense that I’m tempted to kill him, she steps in front of me.

“I hope you have a good trip,” she says. “I believe you have a solid plan.”

“I believe so, too, Izzie.” He tucks my locket into his satchel and walks over to the eggs I’ve prepared. He devours them in one bite, completely unfazed that he’s wounded me in the worst way.

For the very last time…

Tears well in my eyes, but I take a deep breath to prevent them from falling.

“When I return,” he says, heading toward the door, “I better hear that you minded your manners and stayed out of trouble, Belle.”

When you return, I won’t fucking be here. “You will, sir.”

He embraces Izzie in a long hug, muttering, “I love you so much. Be safe and take care of yourself,” and then he leaves without saying anything else.