Ashes of love:betrayed by love, disowned by family

a's

of distant jazz and

g on was too soft. So soft it felt like I was floating

lle, and the stranger named Ronan

body sore in place

urtains and a painting that read "be yourself". My suitcase sat untou

uite bathroom, I followed the music o

aring a black sweater, sleeves rolled

asked without turning a

replied c

oward me. "You sleep like a corpse,"

om his cup. "That's t

h accuracy, like someone who had grown up unde

I asked suddenly. "You'r

walked to the window and

ded, stepping closer to

nd warm. "And what mak

ow the brand, The Silence, and t

uch

really, Ronan?" I asked like a

for a momen

n,.

buried secrets. I disappeared two years ago. As

r death?" my e

ve me no

lusion or the truth. But something in his voice...

is?" I asked, d

erstand what kind of wor

is words. "Wha

er, and dropped it in front of me "Your e

I never asked. He said

less laugh. "That

ed the

s, clippings, and

xler Holdings, a company infamous for hostile

ghing beside Damon at a yacht party. Anot

od ran

e whole time?" I asked in utter con

n easy distraction. You kept Damon clean

y breath shallow. "Why...why

influence. Damon attached himself, then di

m was wet. I felt the heat

, with a serious g

o I fell into the nearest chair.

r from the shelf. This o

n researching me?" What more

ly. "I saw your portfolio. Your designs,

sed. "That

have talent. All you need is a platfo

d bitterly, already b

before answering, sensi

ions, and a score to s

d. "So this i

ut now... maybe it's about us b

I do this, if I rebuild myself, it'll be

uldn't burn the world down your ow

t that made my

ed through notes, details of my old designs, com

one his

bout any of this?" I

thing, you recognize the look in someone else's

le, and powerful. Like

l let you help me. But this

ded a hand

ree