the living room, blurring the city lights into a watercolor mess. I sat on the sofa, my hands cold in my lap, feeling the sam

or lock made me flinch. It was alm

ithout a glance in my direction. The scent of rain and expensive cologne filled the air,

a question. His voice was as cool an

ked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey, his back to

own voice barely a whi

turn aroun

had cut me off. I felt a foolish flicker of h

, the same ones that had once looked at me with such warmth, were

nly tight. "No, I just... I thou

the room, at the portfolio of my designs lying on the coffee table. "You should be spending your tim

deliberate, well-aimed blow.

ist, Eva. You are a child playing with crayons. I don't know why I continue to suppo

t down hard on the counter. Then he turned and walked up the grand sta

the ache that spread through my chest. I remembered a time when this house felt like a home, a time when his voice was my only comfort. A

to me. I picked it up without thi

ed?" a calm, profes

swered, my

ital. I have the results from your tests." There was a slight pause.

king of the clock on the wall, everything faded away. There was only t

ly. "But there is an experimental program. It involves cryogenic preservation. It's

so profound it felt like peace. There was no panic,

my voice even. "I want

e pain from Liam's words was gone, replaced by a strange s

smiling, with his arm wrapped around a beautiful woman. Her name was Chloe Vance, a socialite from a wealthy f

hat ring. I had designed it myself a year ago. It was supposed to be my confession, a silent testament to the love I held for the man who had raised me, the man who was my ent

ort article about the engagement, gushing about the happy couple. My gaze

for a month from now

mber

irth

s scheduled to end,