g like an eternity as Chelsey remain

in with a plate of spaghetti, breaking the eerie silence. He looked

not expecting Trevor to s

izing spaghetti, her expression mor

ok and quipped, "Kil

ion Trevor as a chef, not in a million ye

s without food, Chelsey finally lowered her head to eat, wh

t the suitcases across the hallway, reminiscing ab

ing beside one of the suitcases, hastily stuffing belonging

had left behind in the house, a

rsonal effects, leav

pproached f

kept her back to Trevor. "I

seemed to mi

You're tying the knot, yet here I am. Am I

with a dismissive, "If that's

d, "You're reading

reassuring if

ghtening up and facing the man she had loved for

p an arrangeme

she had questioned him

raying the emotions she

confirmed with

away. Her throat felt like it was being constricted

told you, you're overthinking

be so nonchal

uitcase shut, clutching the handle tightly. Her eyes were red, bu

Trevor grabbed her

the words he had uttered

Chelsey felt a sense of impending doom. Even n

ngle tear teetering on the edge, unwill

rd to fight back her tears. "What if I

on, she couldn't help but gras

ession darken

d a self-depr

e upwards. He caught the fleeting shadow of disappointme

ot, or you just can't stand the thought of me marrying someone else? Chelsey, think about wha

ucket of cold water, jolti

the light of day, felt no different

e wouldn't change a

lsey, stabbing at her heart, and

ightened, his g

fessed, "Two years ago, I made a mistak

spoke with a chilling edge.

welling up in her eyes. But she refu

her chin even higher, his demeanor mocking

strict around them, the tension

sound of Trevor's phone

s to spill out of control. After answering

fted through the ai

or remained silent, his

one hand while sitting on the couch. His grim visage was

the flame to flicke

and slid the sliding

sey, but said nothing, open

ris family with finesse despite his youth. He had mastered the art o

on the phone

d at Chelsey's heart, sou

eat to her room; instead, she settled onto the sof

ith Trevor's scent, a c

rs with Trevor replayed in her mind, each one

. She could only manage to drift into a fitful sle

g, jolting her awake, that sh

summoning her for a business trip to a

had hit a snag, requiring her presence

t attempt to contact her, and she

illian informed her that Trevor had bou

thirty thousand. While Trevor's casual choices o

elings, opting for a car tha

ldn't bring hers

t when she was bent

ad home and catch up on much-needed rest. But then, Gabriella's cal

their last conversation. Just as Chelsey