All Chapters of AFTER THE FALL : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

The Night She Finally Walked AwayThe final night of Elara Voss’s marriage did not end in shouting.It ended in silence.A silence so heavy it pressed against her ribs, made her breath stutter, made her hands shake as she packed the last of her belongings into the small suitcase on the edge of the bed. Outside the window, winter rain stumbled down the glass like broken glass beads. It was late, past midnight. But Damien would be returning soon. And she refused to be here when he stepped through the door.Her daughter kicked faintly inside her belly.Six months pregnant.Alone.Terrified.But free.For the first time in years, Elara felt the thread of her life pulling her forward instead of binding her in place.She zipped the suitcase, each tooth of the metal fastening echoing like the ticking of a clock. Behind her, the bedroom felt cold and hollow, stripped of the warmth she tried to plant in it over time. Marital photographs still sat on the dresser, framed and perfect, carefull

A black sedan was parked across the street.Engine running.Headlights dimmed.Waiting.Her heart somersaulted.He was already there.He hadn’t chased her down the hallway.Hadn’t followed her through the apartment.He had simply known where she would run.“Elara Voss.”The stranger stepped out of the driver’s seat, coat draped like a shadow around him.He didn’t rush her.He didn’t approach.He simply stood under the streetlight, watching her with unreadable eyes.“Get away from me,” Elara whispered, clutching her belly as she backed away.He took one slow step forward.“Damien is coming for you.”Her breath shattered in her lungs.“And I’m the only one who can keep you alive.”Elara’s entire body went cold.“You…” she stammered, “you work for him?”“No,” he said quietly, almost too sincerely. “Not anymore.”The wind whipped between them, carrying the faint scent of rain and metal. His coat billowed, his gaze never leaving her.“Elara.”He lowered his voice to something dark and inti

He took a slow step toward her, closing the space between them, heat radiating from his body, snow melting against the warmth of his skin.“You haven’t asked me why I left Damien’s family,” he murmured.“Because you don’t want to tell me,” she whispered.“Because I didn’t want you to look at me differently.”Elara’s heartbeat stumbled.“Lucian,” she breathed, “I already look at you differently.”Something broke in his controlJust a flicker.But she felt it.He reached up and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.Carefully.Slowly.As if memorizing the shape of her.Her breath trembled.Lucian lowered his forehead to hers.No kisses.No demand.Just closeness.It just aches.“Elara,” he whispered, “you matter more than you think.”Her fingers lifted hesitant, trembling and touched his jaw.He inhaled sharply, a sound half pain, half restraint.Snow drifted around them like falling stars.“Lucian,” she whispered, “tell me what you’re hiding.”His eyes closed for a moment.“The nigh