pte

LA

N

n't look away. I held his gaze steady, unflinching ev

't reg

was calm,

ing harder into my lap as I forced myself to continue. "If

lt dry, but

till choos

heard. It filled every corner of the car, pressi

eyes. The way his grip on the steering wheel stiffened again, his fingers

n," he finally said

still th

who always thin

ckered towar

regrets her

ed like he didn't want

continued, his tone quiete

d choosing him over

at p

raying o

hit harder. Like it carried ev

es

t allow myself to. Because

ow

morless lau

nderful lo

ightly, but there

. your devotion to your ex-husban

m was shar

d you during your trial," he

court... and testified th

thing solid. They were slo

oyal man

I said, my voice steady even th

what they

eavy on my tongu

protecting

int

on't bla

cted. Because it wasn't true. B

have done

lenched so tight and was painful. Like I had just said something I cou

deserve a ma

through my tho

o of you are ex

darkened

ing about y

ose inside me. But b

hould take

was casual but my breath s

pris

ex-husband come

hed through me. The fear was real and uncontrolled.

ening against the fabric of my clothes. But I

n't c

Even though my pulse wa

n take

d his

afraid

pa

he pr

Fear had changed. It wasn't the same anymore. But still, deep

grant that wish of yours

dropped

I w

int

can

lled togeth

h

down," he added, his to

oing back

ght p

mething you g

about the way he said it... Didn't feel right. L

on't w

e shifte

will be f

art s

one

g inside

ha

p it. I turned toward him fully now, my

you mean

neasy. Uncertain. A faint smirk touche

O

or

haven't to

ine. What...? His eyes flicker

ase," he s

only te

. They just... hung there. Meaningles

e time is on

blank. For a second. I

t it..." I

lt distant.

ou mean...

air in the ca

released

ly at the end despite my eff

go back to prison