er. Her fingers were numb, not just from the cold, but from the emptiness clawing at her chest. The g

ame to s

apo

goo

n from

become d

y could break, use, and di

mbed in silently. Her phone buzzed in her coat pocket, but she didn't check it

t ready. Not

her bones. Maybe it would numb her thoughts. Maybe it would silence the voice

ael had always

ter part of the city. She hadn't been here in years-this used to be her studio apartment before

the loose brick by the sta

her. The peeling wallpaper. The dusty easel still standing in

ere she use

ecame someon

rom exhaustion, but release. There were no eyes watching her here. No cold mother-i

could fa

she

ho

e tears

ldn't remembe

days p

ays of

empty bed and whispering to he

ot once. She didn't want Rafa

indow with a cup of coffee, the sunlight finally w

ly, she

here

hadn't see

en V

t just look at you, they saw you. He wore a simple black coat over a white dress sh

eath c

ed, stunned. "What ar

over steel. "I saw the headlines. 'Aldric Heir Confirms

na w

with restrained fury. "

aid n

d, respecting the invisible wa

e said gently. "And

her. "Why... wh

spark," he said. "The spar

hroat. "What lies, Luc

head. "You were lost. But

the pain that rose again. "You

ed you to them like a lamb to slaughter. I watched you walk into

nked ba

d, voice sharp, "for not dragging

rembling. "Why are y

myself... if you ever escaped that gilded cage,

at him, her

are Alayna Mireille. You are the girl who painted rebellion into eve

filled wi

rn them down," he said

t him, breath c

Because I loved you befor

tween them cra

weight of her past

-her pho

he table, as if determined to b

hand, she p

w voic

Dr. Ke

play

your results. Please call me back as soon as you c

pped th

her as she s

ed around her

to her stomach, h

d still echoe

gna

l's c

just carr

carryi

r tightly, as if anch

't say

n't ha

ing was ce

just about

was

, she wasn't