35
Will’s Choice
The uncomfortable meeting with Winslow had been weighing heavily on Will’s mind. Even as he investigated the rings, he was torn. City Hall would never approve of his illicit relationship with Ember. It was doomed. Plus, if he continued to date her, all he had built—all his goodness—could be brought to an end. He would certainly be removed as a Plauditor if he continued to see her. From there, he would be counseled and then even sent to the Outside for his defiance.
Bottom line—he would have to break it off. His insides turned upside down as he thought about the pain this would cause them both. The struggle to stay happy about it would be a Herculean challenge, but in the long run, he was doing the right thing. The secret quest they had been on together was nothing Ember
