dinner would go by smooth

and Isabelle's thinly veiled jabs,

at a piece of roasted chicken

"You're going to murder tha

"Maybe I'm imagining

hed. "Should I

es

me shiver down my spine. "You we

n my fork. "You have a real ta

my spec

lf to stay calm. The last thing

elle seemed determi

her hand. "So, Claire, I have to ask-does

t I forced a polite sm

lly? Because I'd imagine seeing Lucas

n a little too hard. "I

say anything. He just watched

ways were good at keeping

sing to give her the sa

suddenly clinked her glass, drawing everyone's

hanked her f

iving a heartfelt speech about ho

tic. Everything lov

a glance

s on me, no

ht, but I quic

dn't d

w. Not

people started mingling again,

ptly. "I nee

owned. "

I cut him off be

he terrace, inhaling

ll evening, I felt l

, my peace did

d me, and I knew-without ev

ca

Can't you t

op

, but I kept my eyes on

before speaking. "You ne

eyes. "Peo

almost hesitant. "Because you

nally facing him.

l eyes searching mine. "Li

rt cle

ed to

tell him h

coul

own, we both k

ied me more tha

ween us was

ocked onto mine, waiting. Daring me to

ded hollow even to my own ear

ad slightly, stu

just your ego talking. You think because

closer. "Make you admit th

ed hard.

here was no amusement i

"You don't get to do this," I

ed. "And what exact

"You really

?" His voice was sharp now,

lved hurt. "You left, Lucas. You made promises, and

kened. "That

ished. No explanation. No goodbye. You t

air, exhaling sharply. "You

y arms. "Th

le

was debating something. But instead of answer

pi

ad. "That's w

eave. To end this conversation

n Lucas

voice was quiet, raw. "I

fr

that night, I saw something real in his expre

nted to," he continued. "I l

swept between us, b

it. My hands clenched at my sid

hesi

ld answer, the terr

t through the tension. "I've bee

the moment

ghtened, but h

ning to Emma. "Sorry,

t brought out this insane bottle of whiskey, and everyo

it felt forced.

mine, oblivious to the storm

the door. But as I steppe

hoved in his pockets, watching me with

that, I knew t

ven c

couldn't quite place. "You think I left because

, my heart pound

g his head. "God, Claire. Do you

ted look in his eyes. "It was simple to me, Lucas. One day you w

"You think I wan

ore I could stop it. "Because if you

er, his presence overw

tone sent a shi

wers in the sharp lines and haunted

eply, like he wa

nally said. "He fo

ked. "

He found out about us, Claire. And he made it clear-if I d

left m

I said, shaking my he

ey, the power, the connections. He could've ruined your family, made sure your care

, my mind reeling. "And

. He wasn't bluffing, C

quickly. "So instead of trusting me, instead of t

with regret. "I was t

get to say that. You don't get to act like you were som

hed, but I

ce cracked. "How many nights I spent wondering wha

ething dangerously clos

and act like this is some tragic love story where you were the noble idio

rply. "I never wa

," I whisper

between us, thic

I could do it over, I'd fight harder. I'd

s burning my eyes. "I

ps for the briefest second be

eath

urt, of betrayal, of missing him more than I ever w

ified me more