m, its black silk sheets and cove

ost impossibly refined. Illness had drained all color from his skin, giving him an ethereal look straight out o

gering on Eric's peaceful expression. Though Aaron often drew admiring g

ard to believe all those stories about your ruthless ways. Life has left us both powerless. Still

when the door crashed ope

fast, hair a mess, anxiety stamped on his fea

to run away together today. I waited for you forever by that bac

ers, desperation making his voice crack. "Staying her

recall the sting of his betrayal in th

"Aaron, I'm not running away. Something changed when I saw Er

o nothing but stare, disbelief widening

spicion as if he could pierce right through Emilee. "You can't be serio

lievable? Compared to Eric, you're hardly worth looking at. He outshine

h Eric's, warmth softening her features-a complete

hown Emilee the truth behind his polished image. Beneath t

and insecure. Now she saw it clearly: Aaron had spent his whole life trying to crawl out fro

years, now preferred his helpless broth

d. His face contorted in anger. "What's gotten into you? Do you honestly think tying yourself

finality. "Let go, Aaron. You make my skin crawl. I'd rather hav

blow sent him staggering, his hold slipping as pain twisted across his fea

. You've gone to

ee down and pinning her to the floor. His hands

atch me ruin that in front of him. I'l

e. She hadn't expected Aaron's violence to escalate so quickly. Despe

ing her wrists above her head while his

her heart, when suddenly Aaron froze. His entire body went

oice shook, face draining of co

Eric's eyes snapped op