Chapter 37 Fractures
+8 Pearls
“No need.” Adeline yanked her arm from his grasp and took a step back, folding her arms tightly across her chest. Her posture was guarded, distant. “Christopher, whatever there was between us ended a long time ago. You should go worry about your fiancée. She’s the one who really needs you.”
Her words landed like a thunderclap, freezing Christopher where he stood. He stared at her–those dark, ink–black eyes reflected nothing. No warmth, no softness. Just a mirror, exposing every crack in his anger and confusion.
“Fiancée?” he repeated, almost to himself, then gave a hollow, mocking laugh. “Adeline, do you really think I care about those so–called society arrangements!”
“Don’t you?” she replied, raising a brow in challenge. Her tone was sharp, almost taunting. “Michelle’s the darling of Vale City, the perfect little princess. You two are a match made in heaven.”
Christopher let out a rough, bitter laugh. “A match made in heaven?” He shook his head, then looked back at her, his voice softer now–tinged with something dangerously close to pleading. “Adeline… if I told you I never loved her, would you believe me?”
selieve
Adeline faltered for half a second, but her calm quickly returned. She turned her face away, refusing to meet his eyes. “That has nothing to do with me,” she said flatly, then turned to leave.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall.
Both of them turned toward it. A janitor in a blue uniform was pushing a cleaning cart slowly down the corridor. When he saw the two of them standing in the fire escape, he paused, eyeing them with a mix of confusion and suspicion.
“Sorry,” he said in a low voice, “I didn’t know anyone was in here.” Then he quickly pushed his cart past them. As he passed Christopher, he cast one last curious glance over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner.
Silence settled once more over the narrow space. Adeline stood tall, unreadable. At last, she broke the stillness.
“I’m leaving”
“Where?” Christopher asked, reaching out slightly–then stopped himself. He watched her walk away, each step taking her farther until she disappeared from view, leaving him behind with a crooked, bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
In the Layton family villa’s living room-
The marble floor trembled as a thick file slammed down on the glass table with a loud crack. Rayden stood at the table, face stormy, fists clenched in fury. His voice, low and cutting, exploded like a dam bursting.
“Gavin!” he barked. “Do you even know what the hell you’re doing!”
Gavin sat on the sofa, head lowered, fists clenched tight in his lap. He didn’t say a word. Nothing he could say would put out the fire in his father’s chest.
“Dad, don’t be angry Michelle hurried to his side, gently tugging at his sleeve, her voice soft and sweet. “He was only trying to help the family. He just lost his temper, that’s all.”
“Lost his temper?” Rayden snapped. He turned on her, disappointment flashing in his eyes. “Michelle, stop making for him! This almost ruined us. If I hadn’t cleaned up the mess in time, our reputation would be finished!”
excuses
Michelle bit her lip and lowered her head, feigning hurt while secretly relieved he wasn’t blaming her too. She glanced skleways at Gavin–but he remained motionless, still silent, still staring at the floor.
“Enough!” Rayden let out a heavy sigh and waved them off. “I’m tired. I don’t want to see either of you right now.”
Once they were alone, Michelle quietly sat down beside her brother. She reached for his tightly clenched hand, her tone soft and coaxing.
1/2
11:20 AM
Chapter 37 Fractures
Later that night-
0
+8 Pearls
The study lights still burned bright. Gavin sat at his desk, his expression calm, almost distant, as he worked on a design sketch. His pencil danced across the page, slowly shaping an intricate piece of jewelry–elegant, refined, and utterly unique.
In his focus, he didn’t notice the edge of the blade until it pricked his finger. A bead of crimson slipped onto the paper, blooming like a cruel flower in the center of his unfinished design.
He stared at the blood for a long moment, lost in thought.
pristine
Then, quietly, he closed the sketchbook and slid it into the drawer–carefully, almost reverently–like tucking away something too fragile to touch.
