Chapter 19
Alex stood alone in the studio for nearly an hour before finally turning to leave.
His mind was a storm of conflict, tom between two urges–drag her back by force or let her go of his own free will.
In the past, he wouldn’t have hesitated. As long as she was by his side, that was enough.
But now…
Now, he wanted her to come back because she loved him. Like she used to.
Now, he wanted her happy. Even if it meant she wasn’t his
Anymore.
Two voices fought inside him–rage and regret–buzzing like static in his skull.
By the time he stumbled into a bar, the weight in his chest was unbearable.
He didn’t order a drink he ordered the entire shelf. Glass after glass of the hardest liquor they had, lined up in front of him like soldiers marching
toward nin.
The burn in his throat was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.
But no matter how much he drank, the pain didn’t fade. In fact, it sharpened. Got louder. Meaner.
He slumped against the back of the booth, a bitter smile tugging at his lips, eyes stinging with emotion.
How the hell did I screw this up so badly?
They had loved each other. Completely. Fiercely.
She had clung to him like he was her whole world. And he? He’d been the one to shatter it.
He leaned back, letting memories crash over him–starting with the very first time he saw her.
It was ten years
sago, on a rainy street in Cresthaven. He’d been ambushed by thugs hired by his own cousins. Bloodied, cornered, barely standing.
And then, out of nowhere–she appeared
Wearing threadbare clothes but looking freshly washed, eyes bright with mischiel. She’d pretended to call the cops, bluffing just well enough to make the attackers flee.
Her presence was unforgettable.
“You’re way too clean to be a beggar. Don’t people think you’re faking it?” be’d joked, half–conscious,
She raised her chin, unimpressed “What’s it to you? I know how to get by. You’re the one who just got your ass handed to you and you’re still trying to act tough?”
Before he could fire back, his butler had shown up, dragging him off.
But he never forgot her.
Two weeks later, he saw her again–outside a supermarket, her younger brother beside her. She was patting her full stomach, smiling like she’d just won the lottery.
Alex laughed to himself. Smart girl–she dressed neat, snacked on free samples, kept her pride intact, and walked away fed
His curiosity turned into obsession. He followed her for days, waiting for the right moment.
When her brother fell, he finally stepped in–offering help, giving them shelter. He told himself it was repayment, but deep down, he just wanted her
That was the moment his life changed,
She brought light into his gray world. She was quick–witted, sharp, and learned anything he taught in half the time.
He wanted her beside him forever. But she refused to be owned. She’d told him, “I’ll only stay with someone I love.”
And then–miraculously–she did.
They fell in love.
She promised to be his forever.
Chapter 19
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To be the perfect Harrington wife, she dulled her shine, softened her fire, devoted everything to him.
But he he grew restless, craving something new, something thrilling.
And then Sophia appeared–fiery, impulsive, like a younger version of the girl Emily used to be.
He chased the echo, not realizing he’d let the original slip through his fingers. By the time he realized what he’d done, it was too late.
Emily didn’t love him anymore. Even if she came back now, her heart wouldn’t.
Now he knew what it felt like–to be the one left behind. To love someone who no longer wanted you
The heartbreak? It was unbearable. Is this what Emily went through all those years ago?
He closed his eyes, and for the first time in years, tears slipped down his cheeks.
He reached for another bottle, his voice a hoarse whisper. “Emily… don’t leave me behind.”
Time blurred. The bar faded into a haze of spinning lights and spilled liquor.
His chest ached, his vision swam, and he threw up blood–right there on the floor.
His knees buckled. The world tilted.
And then–darkness.
Alex woke up three days later in a hospital bed.
Stomach perforation. Internal bleeding. His abdomen a mess of acid and alcohol.
He’d nearly died.
The hospital had found his ID and contacted his assistant in Cresthaven, who rushed in and stopped cold at the sight of the frail, hollowed–out figure in the bed barely recognizing Alex.
Chapter 19
