To "fix" Leonard Rinehart's oh-so-tragic depression, Naomi Gaffron—yeah, the same girl who once swore she'd only ever marry me—secretly tied the knot with him. So I gave in. Played along with the family's little matchmaking stunt. Married Aurelia Spencer—Brieton City's golden girl who'd been obsessed with me since forever. For seven years, she clung to me like I was oxygen. Every night, curled up like she'd break if I moved. I thought that was happiness. Then one night, I caught her whispering to her best friend: "Leonard's already got international awards. When are you dumping Leone?" "Whatever—I'm stuck with someone I don't love anyway. Doesn't matter who I married. Someone's gotta keep an eye on Leone so he doesn't screw up everything Leonard built." I checked her study. Found a hidden folder—over 100,000 photos of Leonard. A hundred unsent love letters. Even I couldn't fake it anymore. Bought a silicone dummy. Laid out the plan. The fire would be step one. Dead or alive—we're done.
Lihat lebih banyakI couldn't just stay stuck.Time to move forward. Maybe... even try being with someone new.***The wedding march kicked in.The couple was all about white—clean, classic vibes. They stood across from the officiant, ready to say their vows.Bright spring morning. Love-in-the-air kind of perfect.I walked the aisle in a sharp suit, heading up front.Surrounded by flowers, smiles, soft music. A moment made for fresh starts.Then—"Wait!"Right as I pulled the ring from my pocket, the doors slammed open.Aurelia."Don't marry her... please, we're still technically married. We never signed the papers. Just—don't do this."Her eyes were red, full-on crying, locked onto the ring in my hand.I raised an eyebrow, but handed the ring off anyway.The bride cut in. "Ms. Spencer... Leone's not the groom. He's my groomsman."And just like that, Aurelia's whole body deflated.But then, something shifted in her eyes—like she finally got it. Maybe even felt lighter."I'm sorry for cr
That's what finally broke me.But Naomi didn't need to hear all that.If Aurelia still thought I was out there, fine.I wasn't clinging to her belief anymore.All I wanted now was my own life.There have to be people who go through life completely alone, right?Maybe that's a real way to live.I just haven't figured it out yet.***Once the snow cleared, Naomi bounced.Everything went still again.Spring hit, and I dipped. Time for a new crash pad.Aurelia didn't send anyone else. Sometimes, I'd catch updates scrolling through my phone.Her career? Killing it.Naomi tanked for a bit, but she started clawing her way back.Leonard got wrecked—Aurelia and Naomi cornered him—but the Rineharts had his back, so he didn't completely crash.Still, he was toast in the showbiz. Issac's film? Shelved. They handed the spotlight to some shiny new face.Naomi told me to get a dog—loyal, protective, always around, never fake.I thought about it. Hard. Still said no.Dogs are suppos
Most people thought being a forest ranger was boring.Same snow. Same trees. Day after day.Even the animals kept quiet. Mountains too.But I kinda liked it.Acting had always been about slipping into someone else's life. This was just another version of that.Life's short. Why not live a few extras?So yeah, I took the ranger gig seriously.Living someone else's life. Literally.When I wasn't on patrol, I holed up in the cabin with a book.Weirdly peaceful.Cut off from the world, this place felt like heaven.Until today.A knock at the door.I opened it. Woman in black. Tall. Vaguely familiar."Aurelia?"She looked up.Nope."Naomi."***Snow started falling again. No way Naomi was making it back down tonight.I turned, poured her some tea, and motioned to the chair.The cabin was warm. Cozy.She looked around."This place... it's so you. Everything in here screams Leone."I didn't say anything. Just smiled.Then she goes, "Not even a little curious why I cam
In the end, Aurelia and Naomi sat slumped in a corner, each gripping a bottle, eyes fixed on the ceiling.Naomi snorted. "When I gave Leone to you, I actually thought he'd be safe. That you wouldn't mess him up. But you did. You're garbage."Aurelia let out a half-laugh, half-sob. "If I'm garbage, what does that make you? A whore? We're just different brands of broken."Naomi started laughing too, tears spilling anyway. "Leone was always so soft. So calm. You could cut him to pieces with words, and he'd just sit there, talking you down."But he notices everything. Every bit of kindness, every stab in the back—he sees it all. And when he finally decides he's done? That's it. He's gone."So stop chasing ghosts. If he's out, he's out."Aurelia smiled through a tear. "Let him go... yeah. Let him go..."***Aurelia stood in front of the burned-out mansion. Again.The place still reeked of memories, but the house—and Leone—were long gone.He really didn't hold back.Just to stop h
But now, there was no denying it.Leone was gone.Aurelia couldn't sleep—just lay there, night after night, staring at the ceiling.For seven years, there was always that steady warmth beside her. Someone to curl into, to drift off with.There was something she'd never told him.She'd battled insomnia her whole life. Lucky to get one or two hours, max.The Spencer name came with weight—too much of it. Yeah, they were powerful, but the pressure was brutal.No one ever really saw how much she carried.Except Leone. He felt it. He got her.He saw the fatigue, the pressure behind her perfect posture.Only in his arms did she ever really rest.He was the peace she'd spent her whole life chasing.And now, he was gone.For real.Where was he?Aurelia lit a cigarette—her first ever—and stared into the quiet night.Then, a tall shape showed up outside.She bolted out, grabbed at the silhouette."What are you doing, Aurelia? You're hurting me."***"...It's you."Not Leone.
I dropped my bags and stared out the giant window. For once, it actually felt quiet inside my head.The driver lingered, giving me that you-look-familiar look.I shrugged. "People say I look like Leone Rinehart. Probably just a mix-up."He laughed and drove off.I tugged my mask higher and made a beeline for the lodge.This was the only place I knew how to vanish.Snowy forests. Mount Everveil. I'd be a ranger through winter.Leone Rinehart? He was done. That name wouldn't lead anyone to me again.***When Aurelia heard the news, it hit like a lightning bolt.Her voice cracked, spiraling out. "What did you just say? Say it again!"Then she lost it—took off toward our house like she was on fire.Leonard grabbed at her coat. "Don't—maybe it's not even real?"She spun, eyes sharp, smacked his hand off, and kept running.First time ever, she left him standing there. Alone.Inside, it felt like her heart was roasting on a spit.Suicide? That wasn't even on her radar. She nev
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