“What is it?”

Claudia shrugs, appearing just as baffled by the two large boxes as I am. “I have no idea. It came addressed to the birthday girl.”

I eye her skeptically. I know for a fact the woman had a hand in all the gifts I’ve received from Cain this year.

I look at the diamond tennis bracelet on my wrist. It’s thin, delicate, and perfect. One of the best birthday presents I’ve ever received. Claudia might have hideous taste in clothing, but her eye for jewelry is on point.

“Oh, it came with a note.” She makes a face as she hands me a manila envelope. “Feels like there’s something else in there too.”

This is getting stranger and stranger by the second.

I go to reach for it but pause, trying to figure out a polite way to tell her to leave. Cain said he was sending me a surprise soon, and if this is it,  I don’t want to open it in front of her.

Luckily, I don’t have to because Claudia places the envelope on the bed beside me and says, “I’ll give you some privacy.”

I pick it up, but then I notice one of the boxes—the biggest of the two—has Open me first scrawled on it.

I bite the inside of my cheek as I take the top off the box and wade through the mountains of tissue paper. I don’t want to smile since I’m still sad and angry with Cain…but I can’t help myself.

Until I see what’s inside.

Why in the world would Cain send me a dress? Especially one as extravagant as this?

Taking it out, I hold it up and examine it. It’s completely sleeveless, and the bodice is black and form-fitting—highlighting the mermaid shape of the dress. Little red jewels run along the sweetheart neckline, giving it an elegant vibe. That alone is enough to make me fall in love, but my favorite part of the dress is the lower half. A dangerous slit mid-thigh leads to a floor-length gown made of sheer black tulle fabric edged with red ribbon.

It’s gorgeous and sexy. But far too fancy for my usual movie nights.

My heart drops when I uncover a pair of black strappy shoes under another layer of tissue paper and put the pieces together.

He knows I can’t go there tonight. I don’t know why he bothered going through the trouble of doing all this in the first place. All it does is remind me how much of a freak I am.

I go to open the second box next, hoping to find a note saying not to worry about the party because we’ll have our own masquerade ball at home—but it instructs me to open the envelope first, so I do.

To say I’m confused would be an understatement because when I look inside all I see is a tiny scrap of black lace and a single string of pearls.

I swallow hard when I realize it’s a G-string made of pearls…along with a note.

Wear these for me tonight.

P.S: Don’t chicken out. Open the last box.

My heart rate accelerates. It’s such a bittersweet feeling wanting something so much…but knowing you can never have it because your own mind won’t let you.

I love Cain, but I’m not strong like he is. I can’t walk into a room full of people who hate my existence. I can’t stand there and smile while they all whisper horrible and untrue things about me. I’ll run out in tears and embarrass myself even more.

My stomach churns with an evil lurch when I take the top off the last box and see a beautiful masquerade mask that matches my dress, along with another note.

We all hide behind a mask, Eden.

Show them yours and I’ll take off mine tonight.

                                                   

Tears prickle my eyes because he’s not playing fair. He knows I’m not strong enough to do this.

Wiping my cheeks, I grab my phone and click open the Temptation app.  

Despite myself, I do what he says anyway.

I pad over to my vanity and sit.  

I close my eyes. I don’t need to look in the mirror to see everything I wish I was. It’s already burned into my heart.

Before I can protest, his username turns gray.