na'

every time I hit rock bottom, Eric Thompson happened to be standing

ck-away from his heat, his scent, his overw

own, barely there, as if he disapprov

early?" His voice was low, con

The moment she saw him, she snapped to attention, her spine st

n," I cut in, my vo

er added, shooting me a nervous glance. "Sh

my attention on Eric. He was the real authorit

ly. "I came for my severance. She's tel

Thompson Crest Enterprises," the manager interjected sh

rs. I was on projects. I collaborated with teams. I

" The manager's words fa

nd cold, as if he could peel back the layers of her

nally admitted. "All her paperwork went t

Mark hadn't just betrayed

visor hired you personally and terminated you personally, I can't overrule

umble. Of course. He was Mark's brother

, already moving on, an

ter, his P

He gestured vaguely in my direction, not quite looking at me. "L

e stepped into the elevator, and

ling. The HR manager stared at m

t the paper in my palm-feeling nothing but a strange, hollow

*

ay's chaos still reverberating through my skull. "You won'

can't believe Mark did that to you. Erased you. Like you never exi

ittle dignity I had left. "It'

pe in my hand-the blank check

l this out for any amount, and Mr. Big Shot Alpha wouldn't even notice? He's got

ber. Any number. Enough to pay off my grandmother's medic

e in that HR office-sharp, assessing, as if he cou

I'll take what I'm owed. And I'll deduct the hospital bills he paid. I'm

on. "You're impossibly stubborn, you know that? And ridiculously pri

, the strange mix of relief and hu

omes with a price tag-whether you see it or not. And I'd rather s

acked, guilt coiling in my stomach. "I really can't stay here any longer

. "Elena... you've been through enough. Are you sure

you know. I wouldn't have survived these past weeks without you. Your love...

g. "Just promise me one thing: take care of yourself, okay? And do

ulling back with a shaky sm

*

s blurred into a

enses, I used what little remained to rent a tiny studio-barely larger than a c

er letters for every position. In

a graveyard of r

ard & Co. Unfortunately, we have de

time, but the positi

ideration, we regre

ache I forced myself to swallow. Temporary, I remin

mid-sized marketing firm, I lingered near the lobby to

versation unmistakable. "...Yes, I understand... No, we can't hire her... I've spoke

ach plu

ntled by someone who didn't even know me. Someone Mark had spok

ited in

k was sab

re I could think better

amiliar, infuriating

rts. "What the hell are you doing? Are you seriously tryi

w too well. "Elena... I think you're overreacting.

Mark. You got your Bella. You got your shiny new life. So why are you trying

se on a hysterical child. "Look... I'm willing to tal

ening my voice. "You want me to meet you a

." And then he was gone,

o tight my knuckles went white. Every instinct screamed at

tand how the man I'd loved had become so

I w