In the countless days Gabriel spent quietly watching over Lydia, he wrestled with himself time and again. Should he just steal her away, keep her by his side? She might hate him, despise him, but at least she'd be his. The sight of her radiant smile at Jonathan's side sent possessive waves crashing through him, threatening to drown his restraint.
But every time he pictured her helpless during a flare-up, he'd tremble and set down the phone, its unsent message glowing in the dark. He knew better than anyone how much she hated being seen at her weakest. Yet with Jonathan, she didn't pull away—she leaned into him, seeking comfort.
When she was with Jonathan, her eyes sparkled, her smile free and unshadowed. Gabriel couldn't rob her of that joy. He remembered the first spark of his love for
