"The American Fiance who treated me no better than a head of cattle to be bargained? Is he who you hope to emulate?" Melody snapped back heatedly. She leaned back in the chair and glared at him. He wanted out, he wanted his life back as how it was. Why fight her on a genuine possibility to achieve it? Even if it did result in her death.

"Enough with the Princess." Seeing the nickname scrawled on the top of the page used to bring her such joy. Now, whenever Ben had a particularly vicious or bitter retort to make he tore another hole in the memories.

She sighed heavily, her gaze dropping to the floor between them. Perhaps it was a foolish plan. Perhaps it was a pipe dream, but she could do little else. "I'm sorry." Melody said after a minute, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "It was an idea, that's all. A way you could get back to a vague sense of normal. If you don't think it will work, fine. We'll just resent and avoid each other for the rest our lives."