His Final, Silent Gift

idn't go home. He went back to the antiqu

as inside, cleaning up the mess.

re? You should be resting," s

ves. He saw the empty spot where the bird

it, Sarah?

"She paid for it. Five hundred thous

s another display of her wealth, another way to show him how little he mattered. The object that symbolized the start of t

ing his face in his hands. A dr

cing a gentle hand on his back.

wasn'

He remembered giving it to Chloe on their first anniversary, her eyes lighting up with a joy so

racing the delicate lines of the wings wi

ted him. She hated him so deeply, so completely, that she couldn't even

bottle of pills, his hand shaking as he dry-swallowed two of them. The pills were getting l

rsed check from Chloe left him with nothing. The next day, a fina

He had to find m

s at a warehouse, washing dishes in a greasy diner. Each job left him more exha

ion in the hills. The pay was good, enough to cover his rent fo

e sprawling estate, h

ircase, a glass of champagne in his

coincidence.

ave, but two large securit

escending the stairs slowly. "Th

secluded part of the garden near the pool. Liam's friends, a group of a

o's been bothering Chlo

ok like much,"

eeds to be taught a lesson. He needs to

of his friends grabbed Ethan

. He walked up to Ethan and pu

for air. The pain was explos

uin my engagement," Lia

e in the face. Ethan's head sn

s he curled into a ball, trying to protect his failing kidney. He felt a rib crack. The wor

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