The silence that followed Ada's declaration was deafening, a physical blow that robbed Michael of breath. Every fibre of his being screamed denial, yet the cold, hard facts of the past night, the images seared into his memory, confirmed the terrifying truth that he was the monster Ada never know.
Ada didn't wait for a response. Her face, a contorted mask of grief and disbelief, snapped away from him. With a choked sob, she stumbled out of the room, her bare feet slapping heavily against the polished floor, the sound a stark contrast to the delicate steps of moments ago. Michael remained frozen, the name "Michael Okonkwo" echoing in the suddenly vast, empty space.
A fresh wave of terror, colder and more debilitating than anything he'd felt before, washed over him. Ada was Kingsley's cousi
