eat, I could
el L
that promise without explanation. The ghost I had spent years t
esk, my knuckles white. "Y
. More like a mask, calculated, profes
nce, and then he thought he c
y throat, anger sparking.
less office. His suit was sleek, his shoes polished to a mirror shine, every inch the
nprofit was in t
"So what? You
e sharp, almost defens
said you'd be there for me, you disappeared withou
His eyes, still impossibly blue, softened in a way that
aking. "You don't get to rewrite hi
space between us, h
mmer grass from our hometown. The way he used to hold my hand was like it was the only thi
al, the day he left
quiver in my body. "I don't need your charit
d office, the eviction notice s
g because he
e. "Why now? After all thes
y it. His silence
and more, the offi
an
ull of grocery bags. Her eyes widened when s
, not giving her
. Looking like..." Her gaze flicked over him, impressed despi
polite nod. "Sop
've got nerve." She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "
ldn't. Sophia was saying everything I di
iffened. "I didn't co
," Sophia
ed, and I suddenly felt lik
d finally, my voice raw. "
xhaustion I couldn't hide. She squeezed my hand before lower
stormed out, leaving me and Danie
te me. I hate myself for what I did. But whether you wan
Nothing comes free
anything," he said
understand. At least, not now, as thou
My eyes landed on the envelope again,
d it toward him. "Do y
ge just once, and his j
d in my chest.
't. No
ct like you're here to save me, and then you dangl
his expression unreadable, then t
o my chair
Daniel back in would be a
otice, the swindler's betrayal replaying in my mind, my f
survive t
w something about the
led to life before
voice said, low and urgen
tton, my pulse r
"there won't be another one. I've made the calls. Doors are
oat we
Daniel is my only
t," he replied. "Walk away, a
the intercom chimed aga
nounced, "final eviction notice on
it harder t
ering like a storm that hadn't passed. Pride told me to run. F
through my mind. My father's weak
door Daniel ha
lp, and risk
d lose everyt
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