leave with him. After settling him into the car, she let out a light, amused laugh and said, "Thanks for showing up

hers carried an easy, disarming warmth. With a lazy curve to his lips, he drawle

he lowered her gaze, a trace of em

.

hs with Jerald, who had arrived to pick up Erik

s of the man Nicole had once loved more than anyone. Despite the numbness

rudge, Erika pressed herself into Jerald's embrace, angling

ut a word. Plagued by a sensitive stomach, he remembered how Nicole used to quietly cook light, careful meals just for him. Even while juggling work a

nds had commented that s

ticular contempt for Nicole, resenting her for knowingly clinging to her cousin's boyfriend. Even so, a

untarily. Standing off to the side, quiet and forlorn, Nicole stirred something tight and uncomfor

in. Putting on a show of concern, Erika insisted, "Jerald, Nicole's hea

wn immediately. But Erika had misjudged his soft spot; with th

n flickered across Erika's face. Nicole struggled to settle in,

d remarked, "You really should've chosen a more spaciou

time, she had loved Jerald deeply, and every reminder of her gained weight used to stab her with quiet humiliation. Now, she

shopping mall, Nicole pushed the door open a

tled elsewhere, it no longer mattered whether his memories of their shared past ever returned. He was preparing t

.

ith visual impairments. Some of the accessibility functions felt clunky and overly sensitive, but

s an emergency contact, unwilli

ed home and went straight to look for Connor, only to freeze w

his wheelchair, casually lowering the gun and spinnin

n self-defense device! Unease crept up her

biting her lower lip, she chose the truth. "It's not a re

ered to bring it with you when you came here, yet forgot to take it when you le

ted out, "I stay on guard around everyon

yfulness faded from his face as he lowered his hand and set the toy gun aside. "You don't need to do this