EN'

ssed

ing I buried a long time ago. That moment on the stairs, the book in

? They are

e find the cracks,

fe behind stone walls. And

g, I didn't wai

ft e

t like she thought something had changed betw

wer

ould

essfully avoiding Charlotte

s I brought home from the office. I was

ice was gentle.

en look up.

been busy

work, Charlotte. You

ept standing there. "Di

en down sl

ing as if we are stra

te." My voice sounded so

her mouth. I could see the hurt forming

not get to pull me in and then shut down

in," I snapped rai

ess for something deeper. It is

om your childhood," sh

not no

ess. One I will make sure

ing like a glass of tears and it made

was hope for us

y that the man and woman fall in love and they live happily ever after. Let me ma

from falling. Then she turned and walked out without

I couldn't face Charlotte after the encounter we had

a distr

phone and called my friend

how's it

n a while. Congratulations on your

what to say to him becaus

nd a girl over to

han to question me and I'm cer

ad a few glasses and I left the bar with

t needed to prove something to mys

on the couch in the living room with a blanket. S

girl holding my ar

she said softly. "So this

he maid, Elsie, who I didn't not

ver she needs," Charlotte said c

She grabbed her book and the b

k in the guest room. I didn't even touch h

nk of was Charl

d I met Petra, the chef, tr

me. "Having a l

eyebrow. "

g if you are planning to keep hurting

at her. "

e, again and she bar

ying you to put your mouth into matters th

tte. She was coming out of her room

ave to do th

ht as well clean up to

"She's j

were free of any emotion. "I've gotten the message

lotte

t? It's not the fling, it's the fact that

," I said with my

than ten flings, Aiden," she said,

brushing my should

morning till night. The book I gave her was still on her nigh

t till now. Even

d lightly an

ou like

my hea

for something calmin

not sle

"She hasn't been e

my face.

day, sir. The day yo

yed s

t you were

y. "That was

ook like you are th

swer, she turned

ime in a long time,