through my left arm. It was encased in a cast, heavy and restrictive. Beside me, Ben lay in his own bed,

is voice raspy. "You finall

t stiff, my face still bruised. "I gue

er expression neutral. "Mr. Steele sends his regards, Mrs. Steele. He wishes for you to know that the cha

te? After he broke my arm a

moving to freeze the assets of Moreno Corp. if you fail to comply with his requests regarding Ms.

eatening Ben; he was threatening to dismantle everything we had left. T

?" I asked, my voi

acknowledging your brother's culpability." She paused, her eyes finally meeting mine, a hint of pity in their dep

ver me. He had me. He had us all. Ben' s free

soft, but firm. "Don't d

is broken body. "I have to, Be

No. We'll find anoth

in me. It was a lifeline in the crushing darkness. I took a deep breath,

rporate world, preferring to spend his days fighting for digital justice. He was loud, opinionated, and fiercely loy

e believed it was the only way to secure our future. He hadn't known about my secret crush on

itnessed a horrific accident as a child, involving his mother and a contaminated environment. It had scarred him deeply, leading to his severe OCD an

a charm against the darkness. I had meticulously cleaned and sterilized it, believing it woul

it up with a gloved hand, rushed to the trash, and dropped it in, then scrubbed his hands with aggressive

lth. That's what I was to him. All my efforts, all

lly saw the grotesque absurdity of it all. My years of silent devotion, my

the empty halls, the silence heavier than ever. I went to my room, opening my closet. I needed to pack. To leave. But first, I

as expensive, undoubtedly. I felt a surge of cold fury. This was her lucky charm, the one he was

It clicked open. Inside, a tiny, almost invisible chip

und drifted from Edwardo's private s

r own. The door was a

beside him, her 'injured' arm draped casually over his shoulder-p

tting rid of that irritating Blair. F

enuine warmth I had

f their crimes, I felt a sudden, clarifying chill. The heavy, suffocating "love" I had carried

erved ea

, not in despair, but in t

to the rain. I walked to my car, got in, and drove away with a steady hand. Th

ach. Two lines. A

o

ief while his wife bled. This marriage was a cancer, and I had to

ness, but out of necessity. I would sur