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I packed everything and decided to say goodbye to Julian's mother one last time. She had leaned on me for so long after she fell ill; I had long since come to call her family. But at the door, I heard the words that stopped my bl//ood cold. "You really are a good actress. That fake illness looked so convincing." "Vivienne still doesn't know—every time she had an important audition, you'd 'get sick,' just to send her running, so Luna could have a shot at winning instead." I froze. Through the crack, I saw Julian and Luna locked in a passionate embrace in the corner, kissing as if no one else existed. Everything I had suffered, every agonizing hour of silence after they stole my voice, had been the price they paid for Luna. I looked at the happy group inside and walked away without knocking. People who never loved me don't get to keep me. I'm going abroad to chase my long-abandoned dreams and reclaim everything that was once mine. I was still crouched on the ground, covered in bruises, when Julian ruffled my hair and laughed. "What's wrong? Too happy to move?" "That was real progress. You actually made some sound that time." I suppose it made sense they'd notice. I'd earned my spot at the conservatory on the strength of my voice alone, beating out hundreds of other applicants. So when I first lost my voice, the collapse of everything I'd worked for nearly destroyed me. I broke down. I hurt myself. More than once, I wanted to die. Everyone watched it happen. They quietly photographed my worst moments to send to Luna, to cheer her up. I forced myself to ignore the ache in my chest, braced a hand on the wall, and pushed myself up to gather the things that had scattered across the ground. Seeing me ignore him, Julian froze for a second, then scoffed. He probably thought I was just sulking again—certain that in a little while I'd calm myself down and drift back to their side, same as always. But this time, I picked up the last item, walked around them, and hea
