Beyond His Reach: The Girl He Cast Aside

My world revolved around Alex Thompson, the golden son of the family who took an orphan like me in.

For years, my love for him was a secret hum, a quiet song played on the old piano, hoping he' d hear.

But when I finally laid my heart bare, he looked at me with cold, distant pity.

"Ava," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You' re like a sister to me. Always."

Then he declared his engagement to Chloe Vanderbilt, parading her around like a bright, sharp shield; each public display a fresh wound.