of their accusations ringing in my ears, and found refuge in the shadows between two buildings. The city's in

far worse. I was beaten. Utterly and completely. I had swallowed my pride, begged f

into my mind. The man who had shaped my career

eep, chilling despair. I pulled my knees to my chest, trying to make myself smaller, to disappear. For a moment, a

gentle eyes, his quiet dependence on me. He was the rea

was anger. A pure, white-hot rage. They had taken everything from me. My job, my reputat

e was straight. The shivering had stopped. In that grimy, rain-slicked alley, a decision was forged. I wa

nd back into the city light

successful day. He was sitting alone at a corner table, a glass of whiskey in his hand, staring

ow, Sarah?" he aske

one thing I had managed to grab before being thrown out. It was a custom-made silver drafting pen, a gift

n us. The metal made a soft, fi

arried the weight of absolute finality. "You and m

w tightened. "After what you tried to pull to

unwavering. "I'm talking about everything. I am e

ed to

in his eyes. There was a possessive fury there, the anger of a creator whose

n't get

ed at it. That small distraction was all it took. The fire in his eyes faltered, his resolve wavering

emories, and the man who had betrayed me behind. The rain had stopped. The air felt clean, and for th