Love's Ashes, A Bitter Return

followed, I liv

and running diagnostics on my system. The digital illness still lingered, a low-grade static in my consciousness that spiked with any

va," he' d say, stroking my hair. "

smiles he expected. Every act of affection was a performance. Every gentle word he spoke was a l

ly way out was to gather information, to understand the full sco

hought I was asleep. I waited until he was gone, then activated a micro-listening device I'

nd crackling to life. They were in Noah's lab, the

ah asked, his voice

expected. It tied her to me completely. Losing the child was unfortunate, but

that the pregnancy was a tool; he had planned it. My child, my grief, m

oe?" Jak

ear the faint hum of Noah' s

them off the board. And it gave me unrestricted access to her system for the 'recovery' process. The data I've been abl

rike, an operation designed to use Chloe as bait to eliminate their competition and, as a

that stunt she pulled near the outer perimeter. The cartel was closing in on her. I had to create a diversion, a bigger

about him. It was about her. I was just collateral da

ah said. "Olivia needs to understand th

eed her compliant for the next phase. And I'll keep Ava focused on her reco

They see us as heroes. They see Ava and Chloe as che

ut as they must have

m of horror and rage. The full, monstrous picture was now clear

tal illness, fed by the raw, undiluted poison of the truth, surged through my system. Black spots

ast thing I saw before the darkness took m

er expression grim. She must have

the storm that was consuming me. She had anticipated this. She had known the ne

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