Chapter 352. You Ruined Everything

Aurora’s POV

I stared at the dagger in my hand, the green light still pulsing like a heartbeat that wasn’t mine, and before I could even steady myself, Ashton was suddenly in front of me. His hand shot to my throat, rough and merciless, and he lifted me off the ground as though I weighed nothing. My fingers clawed instinctively at his wrist, the edges of the dagger digging into my palm, but his eyes... gods, his eyes burned more hate than his grip did.

“You ruined everything!” he screamed at me, his voice breaking in ways I had never heard before. His face was twisted, his teeth clenched, but through it all I saw the tears spilling down his cheeks, raw and unhidden.

“Do you hear me, Aurora? Everything! You took him from me! You...” His words cut, jagged and cruel, but behind them was a grief so deep it made my chest ache even as his fingers crushed my windpipe.

“Ashton-” my voice cracked under the pressure, little more than a rasp, “I didn’t...”