at the closed door to his room. He was holding his third half-empty bottle of whiskey tonight, but he was unab

tor

of light, and the one person he could always rely on. She had supported him through everything, including the loss of their dad and the cha

she wa

im in the bl

is not capable of being. He felt like he was falling farther and further into

uld think about. The gathering. The chuckles. The tunes. And then there was just mayhem. After spendi

ned everything, his

he had once thought he loved, the girl he had trusted with his sister's life. And yet, she was the

ld she

ts a storm of anger and confusion. He had married her, thinking he could somehow cope -God, he had m

of him like a wall separating him from the information he so sorely wanted. For a few minu

as she

shove and it banged loudly against the wall. Her head sprang up, and she gazed at him, her eyes wide with

hispered, her v

r. "You need to tell me what happened that night," he

e book tightly as if it could protect her f

ook a step closer to her, watching as she instinctively shrank back. The sight only fueled

e shook her head. "I don't remember anythi

ou were the last person to see her alive, and yet you claim you don't remember anything? Do you think I'm a fool?" He slammed his fis

as she tried to reach for him. "Adrian, please,

n continued, his voice low and dangerous, "I live with the knowledge that she's gone, and every day, I se

as tears spilled down her cheeks. "I loved V

ol. His hands shook as he took another step closer to her, towering over h

e he looked at Lena, it only pulled him deeper. She was supposed to be his wife, but all he could see was betrayal. Every time he

erately. "I don't know anything. I

rian growled, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. His fists clenche

rembling with the force of her sobs. "I'm

y, don't bring her back, Lena. Sorry doesn't change anyth

trollably. Adrian stood over her, his chest heaving with a mixture of fury and grief. He wante

d vulnerable. But then the image of Victoria's lifeless body flash

can't do this anymore," Adrian finally said, his voice quiet but hard. His eyes were cold, devoid of an

y inside his chest, but he buried any potential sympathy by pushing it down. It was not something he

rced himself not to look back, even though he could hear the echo of her sobbing following him down the

-

Victoria. They were teenagers then, both of them laughing, her arm slung over his

ight in their family, the one who kept him grounded, who made eve

ed to himself, his voice hoarse with e

o save her. And now, all he had left were quest

yes as the weight of his grief pressed down on him. He didn't know how to

as that he ne

hem to him, he would

n her chest persisted. She was at a loss for what to do. She seemed to be pushing Adrian farth

tried, the shadow of Victoria's death lingered in her memories. Adrian was correct; despite being the last person to have seen Victoria a

e empty room, her voice hoarse fr

hat her apology meant noth