om her thoughts. The sound of objects falling and breaking

r eyes widened in shock when she real

adfirst into a solid body. She stumbled, her balance lost, but before

rmured, the warmth in it momentar

ently helped her

her loud smash interrupted her

y, pushing open the door, and

in their throats at

ng, a picture frame lay cracked and discarded on the floor, whi

mpty space on the wall-where a mas

floor, where the once-impressive television now lay in rui

hut, fighting back the te

oice erupted in anger. "Break things

through the ai

t a fool I was to believe it would last. Look at

he room, each syllable laced wit

ng toward Gabriel. "Stop," she whis

slouched in the wheelchair. His stare

a's cheeks as she gazed at the

e before gently wiping her tears away. "Don

g Asher, who remained motionless, his back rigid,

erced her heart lik

take his hand-but the moment her fingers brush

was laced with a chilling coldness

ed hard. "A

oared, his voic

e nightstand-the only object left untouched in his

!" Gabriel's alar

e the lamp struck her arm, crashin

, then slowly lifted her gaze to Asher-on

of glass underfoot. He grabbed her wrist and pul

urned back towar

ollow, and burning with p

ed to Layla, then gently guide

ut behind them, a deep, guttur

nd quickly scanned her body for injuries. His gaze dar

n hurried away. Moments later,

infected the wound, his brows

voice calm but laced with frustration. "We ne

la snapped, fury flash

We can't wait unti

issed, yanking her arm from his gr

ssion is leading him straight into insanity! Layla, he's my s

told you to leave her alone!" she spat. "And now look what's happened!

n her hands, her body

You should've never let her le

had to do-to protect him! How was I su

lief. "Sheila... You're really something," she murmured

ions, staring blankly at the ceiling

ing at the sight of her distress. His gaze dr

oo

was stil

, grabbing her arm. "We n

d sigh. Perhaps she had been so consumed by h

wound, his hands steady but

e years, Layla," he murmured

console her, but he im

pped toward him,

he's been like this?!" she shouted,

rubbing his templ

ut him off, he

on, Gabriel quietly packed up the first-aid kit and stoo

out a heart-wrenching scream, her

choed throu

e cried, her fury slicing