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Chapter 56— The Instrument

Author: Rach's pen
last update publish date: 2026-01-04 05:41:06

LIAM'S POV

The silence in the car was a physical thing, a dense fog of guilt and unsaid devastation. Maya sat perfectly still in the passenger seat, a statue carved from regret and fear. The emerald silk of her blouse, which had seemed to capture the restaurant’s candlelight, now looked garish under the sterile glow of the streetlamps, a costume for a play that had ended in tragedy. I’d won. I’d gotten her to leave with me. The victory was a rock in my gut.

The only sound was the smooth purr of
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