el's

tepped out of the bar, Nate's

osing her

to fists as I walked to my car. Was I rea

ut. Sophie hadn't returned my calls, and each hour that p

e, the lights were off. The

tle Sophie had left on the counter that night before she dis

wers. I need

I dialed Mason. He pick

os

" I ordered,

ady checked Emily's pl

eck again. I don't care wh

hed. "Und

f a drink, but before I could tak

wn nu

answered.

this is Dr. Mitchell from the Kings

ned. "What'

ut your w

. "Did you find

l from her some time ago, requesting to se

ophie called my compa

she?" I

tion as Grand View

before he finished speaking.

ie's

n. My fingers trembled as I held the glass of water Emily ha

een a desperate move, but I needed to see h

d, and I jumped. A dee

er, the door

he was drinking in the sight of me. He looked tired, disheveled

breathed, ste

my fists.

ing my face. "Why did you call m

jelly beneath me. "I needed to talk to y

s hair. "You didn't have to do this.

ly? And what are the chances yo

"Sophie, you're my

breaking. "Stop acting like I

hick, suffoc

a step closer. "You d

keep lying to me, Daniel? Why did you

ng. "You think I don't ask myself

p breath. "What do

ing a decision, he reached into h

delicat

t I had found

"Why do you

around it. "Because it's

ared at the locket in Daniel's hands. My heart

ice came out barel

, there was no mask, no cold facade-j

." His voice was strained, lik

ad haunted my marriage. The woman Daniel had loved b

in my throat. "Why

"Because I never g

fists. "What

into the night. His voice, when he spoke, was quiet but

me for another man, like the rumors say." He turned

med into me li

i

edge of the bed. "That... that

ies," Daniel cut in. "Bec

hitched.

ow?" He walked closer, his expression unreadable.

struggling to p

gna

had complications. We were supposed to have a life together, a

illed the room. My throat

." My voi

my first love, Sophie. She was my whole world. And when she die

inside me

over her. He

he loved me, but because he was drow

d myself. "So, I was ju

ead snappe

en what was I, Daniel? A repl

gh his hair. "I don't know wha

spill. "The truth, Daniel! Just onc

supposed to be my way out. I thought if I married you

harp pain

you?" I w

his expression unread

r slipped do

ll I neede