“That’s not fair. You should tell me before I regret my vacation with you.”
Her voice almost sounded like she was bargaining with her choices, with her instinct telling her to be careful.
But Aldrich didn’t back down.
“Pack your things,” he said. "We’re leaving tonight.”
The command hit her like a splash of cold water.
“Right away?!”
Hermelyn’s voice jumped, in half scream and disbelief. She wasn’t prepared for any vacation plan that close to this Christmas Season.
Leaving the city, flying to an island, and staying alone with him? "Can you give me at least time to..."
Aldrich had already walked away, leaving her with nothing but her pounding heartbeat and a decision she didn’t know how to think through.
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4:30 A.M. — Sixteenth Day Before Christmas
The w
