Heartbreak To Heiress

ster'

omething

s, but I noticed. I noticed everything about her. Every time she looked at me but di

more than I w

eart that still had room to care even after everything she had been through. I saw it the moment she started taking care of my father. T

all for her. I didn'

e want to be seen. To be known. She made the noise in my head go quiet. All the pressure I c

I could ju

the kind that builds quietly in your chest until it's the o

than

ard had always been up. I needed it to survive in this family. In this w

t he

ared the he

truth was-

idea what to

head home. It had been a long day and all I wanted w

was a knock

id, not really

ed up, it w

unger

had give

r instead of dark. A little taller. Same eyes, maybe, but the difference was everything else. Iris

The way she found excuses to be around me. The way sh

own witho

" she sai

to what I was doing. I

id, "I wanted to ask if you have a pr

d up, c

d I have

t me. Said things. Made me fe

ooked glassy like she had been crying.

said. "Said some weird

nodded. Told her she had

ange because... she's upset about you giving me ri

stop

o?" I

er head. "I

ere about to say som

hesi

"She's been enter

something de

a

we first got close. The one who hurt

tared at

t," she added. "I heard her say it yest

there

as-I didn't know if

't get it ou

me more than usual. When I asked what was wrong, she said it was

t reall

s her first everything. Maybe I was just

swered every email. Stayed late. I didn't want to go h

ouldn't

ed my

home?"

"She stepped ou

hat was all I

nd drove straight

ere, I knocke

t walke

tried the

ope

I walked up, slow. My heart heavy in my chest. Hoping mayb

ed her bedroom

b

h h

s chest. S

at, everything i

n't s

dn't

d around and

a mess. I couldn't stop seeing it. Her. In his a

ring wheel so

la was

warn

That she wasn't after money or power. That she didn't care about wh

er warned me. Even wh

ose

was

tle of scotch. No lights. No words. Just me in

er, I heard t

dn't

ps came

he stepped

r

at her and my whole body went tense. Her face. The same face I us

ked tow

out to t

d her ha

you fuckin

cared. I saw the tear

didn't

w what

e audacity?" I said. My voice shook wi

ned her

t let h

king dis

at I felt.

used

yed

ayed

word. Straight to my room. I sla

her crying outsi

water burn my skin. Nothing w

nk and exhausted, the only thing that

because I

use I tr

broke me

en and refused to close. I didn't even bother changing. I just got up, grabbed my keys, and drove to

ts were low and he was still asleep. P

the door op

to turn to k

resence befo

, I saw guilt all over her face. That on

. I just looked at her one last ti

you," I said, witho

foll

tarted, voice

e open your mo

inched

hange anything," I said. "I know what I

throat, but I didn't say it. Even now, even af

down her face.

flatly. "You don't work

move. Did

't want to see you again. Be go

hat w

rned

t give her a chance to explain. I w

ag