A Decade of Devotion, A Lifetime of Deceit

bed again. Different r

e the IV had been. I

rom the hallway.

ce was raspy, but recovering. "She loves m

what you put her through? Liam couldn't risk it, his system is still f

aced with disbe

nsitive. Ellie... she owes me th

he almost lost *

ely believed I was his, to use and comman

yalty was uncond

s his m

in my mind. This was

manipulation, not even

in my devotion, his belief that he could

wrong. I would l

etched with worry. "Elli

r by a truck," I said,

e it," she said, her vo

have die

have been free," she said

n't a

phone. His voice, though

e. Just a scratch... Yes, I'll be out soo

ked at me, a faint

rried. He

, wincing a littl

"Marcus, you just had s

. "Liam's alone.

recovery, ignoring Chloe's p

like

found sense of disillus

at I did, no matter how much I s

taken for granted. His devotion

But this time, there was no pain wi

ame to my apartment. I was

sed to see the n

he asked, a frown c

Marcus," I said

, that familiar ma

e of what happened? Ellie, I was s

ake my hand.

oice changing, becoming brighter, more char

His go-to move w

ed, Marcus," I sa

. Don't be like tha

unable to grasp t

I asked, a hint of sarcasm in my voice

"Liam? What does he

d. He didn't see the pattern,

omplete obliviousness to my feel

He insisted. To

Flight confirmed. Car will

more

ang. Liam. His voice w

elsea Piers! Some old associate... he says I

face we

n swerved sharply, U-turning

ld on! I'

hit the window, hard. P

His eyes were fixed on th

r Liam

rs. It was dark, desolate

rly figure in the shadows. A g

of the car, rush

go!" Marc

, pressed the fake knife closer

ney!" the assa

!" Marcus shoute

ed to Marcus, loud enough for the "mugger" to hear, "No, Marcus

ld. He looked straight at

he's the one with the money, her fa

He was offering m