ry bags from the floor wh

ream. The double chocolate

ace a stoic mask. Inside, every command was a fresh twist of the knife. He was her errand

f expensive wine he knew Julian preferred. He returned

eper tones, then the unmistak

e, now little more than a closet. He closed the door, but th

her room a fresh wave of pain. He hadn' t cried in years, not since his father' s death. But that night,

apartment. For Julian. A birthday celebration, she

ulian with affection, laughing at his jokes. She presented hi

own home. He served drinks, cleared empty plates

display of affection, it was everything he and Av

end, her eyes flicking towards him. "He used to be

sn' t she?" the friend replied,

ding an external layer to his humi

thinned, Julian foun

ked, his usual smugness te

st nodde

out onto the

s voice low. "I know what the Blanchards did. And I

"What do you

looking out at the city lights. "I always have. Wh

silent, his h

kill herself,

known. He' d thought he was protecting her, but his p

bered pain. "She hated you, yes, but underneath it all... she still loved you. She was dest

tred masked a love that still

had the accident, the hit-and-run...

breath

e the doctors knew about a... a 'generous anonymous donor' who also covered all the costs. I let Ava believe it was m

n had known about his anonymous donation. He hadn't expose

saved her life?" Ethan' s

always been there for her." Julian' s eyes held a

his relationship with Ava on a foundation of lies, feeding her a

lian said, a strange smile playing on

be happy with me. You owe her that much. You owe me that much fo

was a direct challenge, forcing Ethan to confront

safety was paramount. His mission was paramount. If Julian could give her som

ce stretched

gle, almost imperceptible mo

nce. His relationship with Ava was already dead, a

ashed with triumph. He took a step back, a

his arms flailing. He let out a cry and tumbled down the short flig

ttom, groaning,

s cries, brought Ava running