His Betrayal, Her Dublin Escape

a tribute to my late father. Instead, it ended when I overheard the ma

o Austin for a new intern, boasting to his frien

drive-his entire legacy. When I confronted them, his new girl

gize. He shielded he

s Blake have to die over some

her and change my transfer to Austin

t he had

way flight to Dublin, my old SIM card snapped in two.

pte

Churc

r future in Dublin ended in a crowded office hallway,

e than a city; it was a promise, a tribute to my late father and his legacy in the gaming w

cooler, surrounded by his team. His laughter, a sound that usu

e back. "Austin, huh? Bold move, man. But what ab

swatting away me. He didn't even look in my direction, though I wa

n for confidence. "I didn't block her on LinkedIn. Her salary is nothing without my co

rp, the cheerful office chatter fading into a dull roar in my ea

ds chuckling along. "Finley? I've got her on lock," he bo

Stage-five clinger.

aking his head as if he bore the world's greatest burden. "But I couldn't leave Blake

yes who always seemed to need Ezekiel's help with the simples

pounds. I had excused his distance. I had told myself it was just stress about the move. I had

he first step I took for myself, for my father.

efore anyone could see the

ptop, my movements stiff and robotic. I unfriended him. I blocked him. I went through our mutual co

But my father' s lega

my things in a daze. He never called. He never texted. I

ame through. Meet me at the food truck p

he apologizes, I told myself. If he just says he was wrong, I'

exas sun, the heat pressing down on me, mirrori

As I passed the coffee shop near our off

Blake. She was crying, her shoulders shaking, and he wa

ugh her lashes. "Changing your entire international transfer j

a step forward, ready to confront them, to screa

topped me, freezing t

n his voice. "She has no real ambition. She's happy wherever I am.

k. It shattered into a mi

it back and forth, each taking a large sip from the same thick straw.

eplacement. This was a deliberate, di

tionship

transfer application. My cursor hove

ge a thing. I