ge. He went through his private wing

large trash bag. Gifts she' d given him over the years, mostly perfunctory, followed

symbolic act of severing the chains that bound

gs. She watched him take down a framed photo of t

?" she finally aske

, not looking at her. He d

our games, Ethan? Trying

n appeared in the doorway. He looked p

d at Ethan. "Ethan, I... I wanted to apologize if my presence has cau

Ethan knew the Daniel from his fi

ou shouldn't be up." She glared at Ethan. "S

thing. There

"You know, Ethan, our families' agreement, this 'alliance'.

ead through his chest. Even knowing everything, hearing her

nd to her, it was just a l

eet her gaze, his own

g Isabella back a step. "Bella, let m

icious look before leading Daniel toward a sofa. No, Daniel

nding. "Ethan, I know this is hard. Bella... she' s been through a lot. Her fam

d silent, w

by Miller Holdings' involvement. She told me how... overbearing your affection coul

villain, the source of Isabella' s trauma, the obstacle to her happiness

y wash over him. What was the point of fight

t want

voice hoarse. He turned away, pi

r simply losing his balance due to his illness, stumbled forward. Daniel' s h

shot up his arm. He cried ou

sprang up with a bark, sensing Ethan' s distress. Max moved towards Dan

ripped over his own feet, his arms flailing. He crashed into a bookshelf, a sha

ll happened