hen I finally got back

did was go to my o

with ten ye

me – expensive,

y galas, his smile always f

o impress him. Books

acking. No,

throwing t

cally. Ru

a black trash bag was

girl who believed in a

tic. It was h

y, it was

g my space. Cl

Ethan showed up. Un

rooms, saw the tra

pty shelves,

d, his voice tight with annoyance. "Another t

was playing

gine I was actua

inability to see me, it didn't eve

railed in behind him, loo

y, touching his arm. "M

his expression s

ck at me, his fac

o hear clearly. "It was always transactional. You knew that. Your family needed

was a deli

e wanted her to kn

would hav

ull ache. Confirmation o

after Ethan storme

out a glass of iced tea. A p

liant, idealistic enginee

se of so much pai

as different. I

said, my voice ca

e expected a fight. Host

isting her hands. "He does

ost l

Innovations was successful. His family lost everything. He wa

her eyes pleading

of that time. Of how helpless he was. He felt... indebted. Trapped

painful, shatter

mfort. It was a constant, p

votion, percei

lung to for a decade

cal thing. A crushin

get away.

ape the room, to escape h

father had given me after my last breakup b

, trying t

nto a heavy

up my leg. I heard

commotion and my cry,

lara, who was st

her balance, and

harp corner of the

ng scream cut

ine. It was

back into the room, hi