Chapter 2 The cold wind brushed Gabriella's face , seeping through her skin and into her bones . She shook her head . " Not now . And not like this . " Reynald snorted . " If you were really so ready to die , you wouldn't have climbed over corpses to stay alive . " The color drained from her face . No one knew better than him exactly where to stab to make it hurt most . Reynald walked out with Vanessa , and the others followed . Gabriella leaned against the wall , trembling , tears slipping uncontrollably down her cheeks . Her phone rang . It was Reynald's doctor , Gwen Loretta . " " But he was right about one thing . I carry a murderer's blood . And every second I stay alive , it reminds me of the one person I loved most ... who died for me . " Gabriella let out a bitter laugh . " Living is too hard . And I don't want to owe him anything anymore . I'm sorry , Gwennie . Please . Help me one last time . " Gwen knew . Gabriella's mind was made up . She couldn't stop her . After a long pause , Gwen's voice cracked . " ... Okay . " Gabriella hung up and walked out . Just as she stepped out the hospital doors , Reynald's car pulled up . " Get in . Time to take a family portrait . " Her heart skipped . Five years married - not a single photo together . If she could have one before dying , just to pretend she had a family , it'd be enough . She got in the backseat . Vanessa turned from the front , eyes wide . " Gabriella , I'm sorry . I know I shouldn't be here for your family photo , but I can't bear to leave Rey . We don't have much time left . Please ... don't kick me out . " Reynald reached over and patted her head . " No need to apologize . She has no right to kick you out . Gabriella smiled faintly . If he could mock her , she could play along . They arrived at Cloudcrest Manor . The moment Reynald's mother , Betty Yost , saw her , her face darkened . " You damn curse . You killed your own mother and cursed my son . And Chapter 2 now you dare show up for a family photo ? " Get out ! Don't taint my house ! " Gabriella wasn't surprised . But still , her chest ached . " Mom , we still need the photo , " Reynald said with a smile . " It's unlucky to leave the spot next to me empty . " Gabriella froze . Then , he shoved a camera into her hands . And walked over to stand with Vanessa and Betty . " Alright . Now we can take it . " Her heart sank like a stone . He brought her here to take their family photo . Gabriella smiled too . If he dared , so would she . She raised the camera . The shutter clicked nonstop . Reynald and Vanessa grew more intimate by the frame . He even gave her a full French kiss - right in front of Gabriella . When they were done , he turned to her - staring . Her expression didn't change . " Keep going . Out of poses ? Want me to teach you ? " His eyes darkened . Then he walked up and took the camera from her hands . " You've worked hard . Let me take one of you , too . " Come on , look here . Say cheese . " He smiled , gentle and focused . Gabriella froze . For a second , she saw the Reynald from five years ago . The one who took her across the world , snapping photo after photo , saying he wanted to capture every beautiful version of her . " All done . Take a look . " She blinked . He held out his phone . On the screen - a black - and - white portrait of her . " Didn't you say you were dying ? Figured I'd get your obituary photo done early . Satisfied ? Look dead enough ? " The malice in his eyes cut her like a blade . She should've known . Just like the funeral wreaths at their wedding , Reynald had never once offered her even a drop of kindness . Freelance photographer Violet Beck is forced into an engagement with CEO Roy Payne. He is everything her wild heart rebels against: proper, predictable, and painfully kind. But love has a way of devel...