Came here instead. Buried myself in work, trying to grind down the restless thoughts clawing at the back of my mind.
But now…
This pain in my chest didn't feel random. It felt connected. Like something had snapped somewhere I couldn't see, but I could damn well feel the aftermath of it tearing through me.
And for some reason… I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Did I feel bad for Ashley?
The hell I did.
How could I not? I grew up with her. She was there through everything, years of shared memories, of trust, of something that used to feel unshakable. You don't just erase that like it's nothing.
But the moment I realized Maddison was my fated mate… everything shifted.
Because I saw her. Really saw her and what she went through, what she endured while Ashley stood there, untouched, sheltered, carrying a name that handed her everything on a silver platter. And the more I learned about Maddison's past, the more something dark and ugly started to build inside me.
Anger.
