Claire Hughes almost cancelled the livestream three times.
The apartment around her was dim except for the glow of her laptop screen and the small lamp near the couch. Outside, rain tapped softly against the windows.
Inside—
her heartbeat sounded louder than the storm.
The livestream countdown sat at the corner of the screen.
Two minutes.
Comments were already flooding the waiting room.
Is this about Dominic Sterling?
Tell us everything.
Another gold digger looking for attention.
We support you Claire.
Her stomach twisted.
Claire reached for the mouse.
Hovered over End Stream.
Then stopped.
Because this was exactly how he survived.
Silence.
Fear.
Second-guessing.
Dominic Sterling had never controlled loudly.
That was the worst part.
He never screamed.
Never demanded.
