Beyond the Dead Bedroom

ur bedroom was a

e ye

e space between us in the king-sized

on her side, back to me, a perfect, still silhouette in the

" I wh

espo

was even, too

ulder. This was it, the night I' d try again

i, h

touched

, a small, s

yes, usually a cool bl

you wan

flat, devoid

d, trying to keep my own voic

ing for a kiss,

pushing hersel

ffed, her lip curling

it me, a ph

the

er voice dripping with disdain, "there are app

to me again, dismi

ed. Desperat

n my head. How had we gotten here? What had I done wrong

the floor cold ben

y fingers, almost on autopilot, typed in the

t the o

f loneliness, rejection, conf

ed from the master

lurched.

my breath catchi

door was sl

She was sitting on the edge of

e was

e' s

ake...

uld just make out the familiar layout of Inst

stumbled back, a sil

en asleep, or pretended to, I saw he

picked it up. I shou

had to

ith Olivia and C

he messages, each

staying pure for Blake! You're a

than not know? He's such a cl

dson-Sterling tower deal, then DUMP him and fin

lipped from my numb fingers, c

tte

s the o

streets, the constant fear. Then, the Hayes family. Charles and A

and Eleanor. New York real estate. And Blake. Always Blake

s me. The real estate mega-project. The Hudson-St

passionat

alls, supposedly "supporting" me when the Hudsons made me feel like an outsider. "Saving" me from tha

rmance. A long, ca

fool.

on the nightst

Hayes. My mom

ee if you're packed for my birthda

and genuine, was

anymore. A sob escap

hat's wrong? You

ick with unshed tears. "I... I c

then Abigail's voic

worry about a thing, Ethan. I'm arranging a private jet. It will

d resonated d

a sliver of hope piercing

ppen. The Hayes family, quiet, discreet, but with resources that r