David
I let the words hang in the air like a blade cutting through her fragile composure. “Scarlet… I love you.”
It was deliberate, every syllable falling with precision, as if aimed to shatter her. I could hear the soft gasp that escaped her lips, the raw sound of heartbreak. She didn’t speak, but the silence spoke volumes. I could feel her unraveling. And strangely, it felt… good.
Feigning intoxication, I let my body slump into the bed, my breathing uneven, my movements clumsy. I wasn’t drunk—not in the way she thought. I had control, though barely. I muttered Scarlet’s name one more time, watching through half-closed eyes as Laura sat frozen on the edge of the bed, her chest rising and falling in quiet sobs. She didn’t move, and for a fleeting second, I almost regretted it. Almost.
