May'

ly. My driver, Ben, was us

ignated pick-up spot,

figure lunged out from the

lent shove, I tumb

o Torres stood over me, his f

nto the backseat of the bla

arm, trying to ha

m free. I stumbled backward, trying to put dista

ed over. "Hey! What's going on? Let her

off dismissively. "Mind your own b

ry sedan. "Avery, get in the car. Kiana's mom was

ied out, "Avery, please! We n

d, struggling to s

ing my scoff for compliance. He reached f

atience entirely exhausted. I snatched

and yanked the door open. My driver looked startled.

lared loudly. "Take us to the hospital

am exclusively assigned to Ms. May. My

ealing with. I'm Diego Torres. Soon, I'll be one of the most powerful men in Silicon

pressing a button to lock the doors. "

corner of my mouth. Stripped of my resources, D

shield I had provided. He genuinely believed his past success was purely self-made

to sob, and this time, the tears were real.

Avery is blowing this totally out of proportion." He

s is ridiculous! I'm going to be a bill

k it off, will you? I'll even... I'll e

vest?" I almost b

me, I know that. But Kiana is my soulmate. She's the one

an still conquer the world together. Just...

lip in she

never an 'us.' My 'affection' was for the project, not for you. And it certainly wasn't t

n the piercing wail of sirens filled the

, pointing at Diego and Kiana, "attempted to hijac

es against the window. "She's exaggerating! She's al

xperiencing some... delusional symptoms. He seems thoroughly convinced he's a future tech billionai

rror. "What? No! I'm not

eports of assault, making threats, and attemp

the officer's grip. "You can't arrest me! I'm destined

watching him with

an open psychiatric bed for Mr. Torres, but I'd be willing to cover the cost of his in

. "We'll take him in for questioning first and ensure he g

officers. "Avery, you'll regret this! You'll regret

ntly with a barrage of messages from Diego. Hund

egging, which quickly devo

his soul, then sw

love, then condemned

ours to change your mind, or I swear to Go

a weary sigh, and p

io