Independent Widow

her apartment, feeling as if the walls were closing in on her. She had been drawn into a world she hadn't

something else that she couldn't place. She wanted to shout at him, to demand answers to every question that raced th

spite her best efforts to remain composed. "How could you be so close to me,

hand reaching out, but Kendra pulled back, instinctively, no

to tell you the truth from the beginning, but I was afraid. Afraid that you'd leave, that you'd never

al that gnawed at her. The man she had grown to trust, to care for, was not who she thought he was. He was hiding a lif

turning into a bitter, sharp edge. "You should've trusted that I could han

ion crumpling as though her anger was physically painful. He open

"I need to process this

, to give herself a moment to breathe. But Noah wasn't ready to give up just yet. He followed

r skin crawl. "But you have to believe me, Kendra. I never wanted you to be a part of this. This isn't

her. She wanted to scream, to demand more answers, but she couldn't. She couldn't form the words to express the storm inside her. It wasn't just abou

aking with emotion. "Why did you come here to

t let you go on thinking that I was someone I'm not. I couldn'

hey couldn't take back. Kendra felt like her heart was being ripped in two. She had always believed in the power of honest

think I can just forget about everything-forget about the woman I was before you? I've worked so hard to build a life where I'm safe, where I'm not at the mercy of men like your father or the people w

t. "I didn't want this for you, Kendra. I never wanted to bring this into your life. But you

of this, Noah. I didn't ask to be pulled into your mess.

was just as intense as the one outside. He could see the hurt in her eyes, could feel the pain in her words, and it made his chest ache in a way he wasn't prepared fo

can't undo what's been done, Kendra. I can't change the past. But I swear to you, I'l

d somehow make everything right. But the weight of the truth was too heavy to ignore. She had never asked for this, never imagined that her life woul

illed with an aching sadness. "You can't pr

him like a punch to the gut. He took a step back

is voice raw with emotion. "

erase what had been revealed. Kendra knew that the life she had once known was gone, and the future that lay ahead wa

. For her own peace, for her own survival, she would leave him behind. The walls she had built for s

Noah," she said, her voice firm

mixture of sorrow and regret. And as he walked out the door, Kendra felt something inside her crack, something that had been held together by nothing

behind him, Kendra felt her