LOGINIt glints softly and as I run my thumb over it, it grounds me. Tethers me to the present and reminds me that I am not alone.The panic doesn’t disappear, but it eases just enough for me to breathe again. Just because they’re suing me doesn’t mean my life or my career is over. It feels catastrophic,
SIERRAI’m sitting on the couch, laptop open in front of me, pretending to read through research articles, but I can’t get my mind to focus. At this point I think I won’t be able to focus on anything until everything is cleared.The company hasn’t sent their lawyers, but I know it’s not a matter of
Just thinking about it makes bile rise in my throat.Slowly, I reach into the drawer and pull out Chloe’s diary. I need something solid. Something real. Something to anchor me.My fingers tremble slightly as I flip it open and turn the page.[We all used to hang out even though it wasn't often, but
She freezes, just for a second, before her face smooths out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I advance on her slowly. “So you’re going to play stupid?”“I really don’t know…”“Jocelyn.”I say the name and watch her closely… Then I see it. The widening of her eyes and the split-second panic
For a second, everything freezes. My hand tightens around the car door handle, my feet rooted to the ground.“Mr. Wood?” Blaze’s voice pulls me out of the paralysis.“Are you sure?” I ask.“Yes,” he replies. “I ran through security footage. They’ve been meeting at least twice a week.”I inhale slowl
“If I remember correctly,” she says coolly, “you stopped me.”“That’s because I didn’t want us to sleep together before I officially made you mine,” I reply. “And before I could do that, you told me to get out.”She scoffs. “What did you expect? You basically rejected me and even after that, I gave
I swirl the glass in my hand, my mind miles away.After I left Sierra’s house, I went back to work and found my office already cleaned and reorganized. The wreckage I’d caused had vanished without a trace. Even the shattered desk had been replaced with a brand new one.Mary gave me looks. I could fe
Those minutes I sit there waiting for her feel like the longest of my life. I don’t move, but I can’t stop fidgeting, picking at my nails, shifting in my seat, heart thudding in my ears.When I finally hear the roar of her engine, I spring to my feet, startling Blackie, and rush to the door. I fling
“I swear if you hurt her, Noah, I’ll—”I don’t let her finish her threat; the urgency to fix this mess rides me hard. It almost feels like if I don't fix this, then I won't find rest. Chloe will turn in her grave and haunt me. ***The whole ride is a blur, and now here I am standing outside her doo
It’s even worse for him because no one saw it coming. No one predicted it. One minute she was okay and the next she was gone. He never had time to prepare. To process her illness or her death. I doubt he ever accepted death.“You haven’t told me why you are here,” he says as he pushes away from me,







