I stood frozen, unable to move.Julian lay sprawled on the ground, his face smeared with blood and dirt, looking like a broken heap.Declan stood over him, blood still dripping from his knuckles.He turned around. The fury that had filled his eyes moments ago vanished the instant he looked at me, replaced by an unmistakable softness.He held out his hand, palm up.“Nora, don’t be scared. I’m here.”I stumbled forward and buried my face against his chest.Then I burst into tears.All the hurt, the fear that came after the shock, and the sickening realization that I’d been deceived finally poured out with my tears against his chest.When the police arrived, Declan didn’t resist.Before leaving, he gently squeezed my hand and reassured me.“Don’t worry. Everything will be okay.”I went to the hospital.Julian had a splint strapped across his nose, and his face was so swollen it was barely recognizable. The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up.“Nora, those things I said earlier
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