DERN

ot mine. I'm at Lysa's. I'm staying over

r alone. My best friend's here. With me. Helpi

ut me being here. Or he's convincing her to drive me to th

feels like the past few day

lap, mind racing with what-ifs. A lot of seco

t is that I'm free. At long last. We'

ive or survive in this city without his protection

h. "If you're not back by

g in my head. It's not what he said v

sive house. A bloody altar with my pictures and stuff. His

spreads across my palm. I shouldn't keep thinking about him. But it's imp

" me. I know him. The other

almost beat up a drunk guy just for touching my shoulder.

now I know better. It was jealous rage. None ot

guy was a nobody, and Erian's cousin, the party host, plays golf wit

ce breaks through my t

still. In case Erian is also tracking my movements thro

closer to me, holding a plate

," I murmur

u wanna reheat this later." L

s Rio

g up fl

all week. The management is s

t of here first t

rid of me. But I totally get it. This unit doesn't have a guest room. An

house, my stuff, my job, my friends, my life with Erian... It

as if reading my thoughts. "Cameras everywhere, and, he'll f

good with computers. A techy kid who also grew up around Erian's u

. And when he finds this place..

sentence. I already know how

just not... You'

space around us. It's not minimalist, the i

ha

ay. Not seeing his face. Not

down and gr

c, violent thoughts. I don't have family here. Or a lot of savings in my bank account. If both

sa says firmly. "Rio just needs to convince his pie

't have to take time off, either. But

a new job there. Jus

is another

ake some time off. Then we'l

n't be easy for commonfolk like me. I'm not a tech-savvy, highly skilled, well-connected multimillionaire with a fat go

e city lights twinkle against the darkness outside. Can I actua

on the couch, alone in this dim living room, but

Can't stay here another day.

go. And when he does, what would he

ur marriage, pull me back into his orbit with prom

his myriad of talents. Guy's a skilled

ng on the nightstand. My breath catches t

ort: "You've made your poin

ds. It's not a threat, not outright, but it only worsens the heav

imself into another rehab facility and gets professional help f

Not this time. I delete the email and lock my phone. Doing

ying. Yet I can't escape the thought that ma

roaches the dining table with a cup of coffee a

ve a short message that says he sent that last email to me by mistake. Just to confirm tha

this hour?" Rio scoffs, his tan forehead and dark brows a

ir judgemental stares just worsening the guilt I'm trying n

" Lysa rol

using again."

nt me to loo

s time. It's a valid reason. If Erian tries something even stupider than what I've

r, more stern voice. The restrained annoyance in his brown eyes is u

w. But I'm j

It's not." Rio keeps up his poker fa

ut that doesn't mak

Erian might do. To me or to himself. I'm m

some moments. Times when I've felt something real between us. Special moments w

that still wants to bel

night. I shou

rted. Good thing they're just outside the gates, waiting for me to change my m

e to. Some gruesome thoughts have been nagging at my

ll's good. Make sure he's

ing my self-control. Or is it the

y. My heart skips a beat as I survey the first floor of t

fter my voice echoes throug

ans

age. Including his Ducati. And he never sai

I climb the stairs, footsteps soft against the carp

spicions. Where is he? The room looks untouched. No

The cool night air hits me in the face. I

I s

bo

ma

acedown in