When Silas returned to the villa, night had plunged the world into pitch-black darkness.
He didn't bother with the lights, striding straight to the living room center before collapsing to his knees before the hollow void beside him.
"Elara. I really believed we were happy," his voice cracked, "I thought I'd given you the perfect life."
His palms ground against the icy floor, his entire frame wracked with violent tremors.
"All this time you were suffering for me. When you tried to share your pain, I turned it against you—twisted your words and hurt you instead. I broke every promise, yet somehow convinced myself I was good to you."
Staggering up, he lurched into the bedroom and wrenched open the wardrobe. Pulling out her favorite dress, he crushed it against his chest as if it could an
