Riley’s POV
I woke up the next morning feeling slightly better than I had in days.
The sun was streaming through the bedroom windows, warm and bright. Gerald had already left for the office. The bed beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch.
I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to gather the energy to face another day.
Marcus. The thought of him made my stomach turn.
What was I going to do about Marcus? How could I make him stay away? How could I protect Mirabel without destroying her in the process?
The questions circled in my head like vultures, picking at my sanity.
I couldn’t keep living like this. Constantly looking over my shoulder. Constantly lying. Constantly pretending.
I needed a break. Just a few hours where I didn’t have to think about Marcus
