ning, I bega

every photograph connect

eenage crushes, from the ghosts of marri

That felt too dram

sent to a distant charity au

emories, one

: Blake Sterling. The

Innovations, his philanthropic ef

a successful one. Th

ted knights was a distant hum, a backgr

, I found them o

arranged on a chaise lounge, a cashmere blan

adjusting

n orange for her,

rom a book of poetry, hi

ingly perfect ta

ell, it seems," I s

ying to her chest. "Oh,

expressions shifting from tende

his tone a warning.

lenty of it," I observed.

orry to be such a burden. I told t

n Liam, then Noah, "perhaps one of you should take her into your own ho

silence

a, how can you be so... so cruel? I know

fense. "She's just suggesting a practica

sensitive, as usual," E

sigh. "Elara, Chloe is our g

. "This is my parents' home. A

me. This was the same

end to," I said, turning to leave.

suite, the air thick with

was a soft

I... I wanted to apologize. If

, innocent. The pi

oe," I said, wa

antique writing desk. "I m

for my pen, s

hrough the air, directly

nvoluntary sound as the

dn't sto

s, arms flailing, and knocked over a tall por

er head against the edge of t

hat are y

from the doorway. Liam and

he floor, a hand to

attered vase, t

clutching m

s streaming. "I just wanted to apol

rushing to Chloe's s

e's head. "She's bleeding. We n

t my arm, bright r

rcelain that had embedded itsel

g, shot up my leg. The b

rld had narr

adling her head, Liam supporting

Elara," Ethan bit o

steps urgent, their voices laced

scent of Earl Grey and shatter

their callous disregard, their instant belief

wever, it did

ified my

he hospital. And then,