The Buried Truth

lingered on her lips, bittersweet, dangerous. It was absurd, she, a woman who had always preached discipline, integrity, and self-restrai

her palms against her e

and had brushed hers, tentative, until she closed the distance herself. That kiss was fire, rebellion, desperation, all at once. And

raying her marriage, guilt over risking her career, and an even heavier guilt

hrough the school corridors. She tried to steady her breathing when Ben appr

ncing around to make sure no one

r tone sharper than inten

g across his face. "So th

knuckles whitening. "We have to."

the faintest trace of his cologne, and

Whispers of suicide traveled fast, but whispers had a way of growing teeth. Questions spread like

nting blood. Officially, the case was "under investigation," but unofficially, rumors w

rother of Judge Mark-was

ing, his silence heavier than most men's threats. Where Judge Mark was polished, cha

as instinct. And his instincts told him th

l began

lived more life than his years allowed, and his scars showed. Camila had once been close to him, too close. Rumors at sch

h

ayla was the needle weaving it all together. Vincenzo had seen the way she glanced at Ben during Camila's fun

eyes. She's hi

ark, trying to mask her spiraling thoughts. He poured them bo

you, my love," he sa

d a smile

toast fe

back, eyes

ve been so supportive... I thought

h knotted. She

ent to bed. Everything was s

to work. On getting to class, she noticed Ben was not in,

o know why he wasn't in class, that was when

was worried and had to go to his autoshop to talk to him. Getting there, she had that feeling again, the same one she had the fi

to her house. On getting there, there was no o

r up somewhere, but it wasn't really an help, there were just trying to ge

to end things with he