Ashes of Betrayal, A Dying Wish

oxes and the code for my first big game scrolling on the TV screen. He hadn' t gotten down on one knee. He' d just turned to me, his eyes serious, and said,

written by the image of that giant

t just disappear. That would be giving him the satisfactio

annoyance. Bethany looked concern

ely," I said, the words feeling stiff and foreig

any said, her voice soft.

rching for the angle, the trick. He couldn' t

, the weight of their c

from Liam, not from Bethany, but from

ust reviewing your final arrangement paperwork. I see you' ve listed a

hat' s c

these roles, we require verbal or written consent fro

ight. "I... I'

stration of the medication requires a witness to be present. Someone from your life. Not a staff member. It' s part

ation was clear. If I had no one, the

e. My best friend was marrying my ex-fiancé. Th

my voice more confident tha

e of cold panic

next move, my phone buzzed with a text

okay, I got your number from an old g

e. What could she poss

he phone started ringing. It was the same

ice chirped. "Listen, this is going to sound crazy, but I w

spee

aste. And, well, I' m trying to pick a 'first dance' song, and I know you and Liam had so ma

er first dance with the man who broke my heart. It was a power move

that' s a good idea," I

to me. As a way of... you know, bridging th

and Liam' s voice was on the

ing to be nice. The least you can d

e, Liam," I said, my

ake it easy for you. I' ll pay you for your time. A consulting fee. One thousand dollars.

n into a transaction. He was cheapening every memo

r money," I said t

reatening tone. "She feels guilty about how things ended between you two. This is her wa

before I co

itter ex-girlfriend, the one who couldn' t let go. If I said yes, I

t me no ch