w latch I had pried open, h

would hesitate for a long time before even raising my vo

dared to braz

hest felt as if a boulder was pr

cribable irritation and a hint of

s dark expression, shrank back, pretending

eping over the empty sofa, recalling how I used to wait for

tiness surge

ith a swift motion, sent the items on th

on the floor, the veins o

ed demeanor was gone, lea

rfully, trailing behind him like co

away but left wit

ice a roar, "Send people out to find her! Search every

ushing to arrange the search, terr

re, his gaze da

d up a sharp shard of porcela

ture of the wound

.

sage, I had already finished w

ral days of hunger and torment

t, I specifically chased everyone

s a new one

s message and pr

d Aydan's voice from the next

I could catc

th me." His tone wa

ontinued, "She's not in great shape. She ne

phone, his ex

ic anxiety over not finding me, yet

ine asked, holding he

the phone onto the sof

ef. "It's good she's with him. I was worried that so

ave. "I should get going, I'v

idn't h

e dark night, his emo

injured, I would be the first pe

med to have ca

own his spine, clutching at his he

e eyes for him, become so disob

o the art exhibition in the south of the city tomorrow. I heard that th

ng at the gentle Madeline beside him

s behavior, she was so

ght, I'll go wit

.

ownstairs, I saw the agre

firming everything was correct, I

int of a smile in his eyes, be

he said naturally, putt

busy, and the p

e was handed to me, a sense

t, I was

nd, "I'll take you out for a nice meal, an

sked, lookin

heard Madeline really wants to go," he

had arranged for som

paintings and sculptures of various styles,

he patiently explained the

omething interesting. "Yo

ip on his hand an

me someone had told

night several times to finish it. You excitedly presented it to him, only for him to toss it aside while he was

something, a dull ache spreading through my ch

ylan gave it to her." Aydan continued, leading me forward, "You di

words, formed a vague picture in my mind

uddenly wanted to k

an, like a brother to m

t.

y eyes. "Are you trying to sow d

ctively, "Can he be co

s just someone Ry

iliar voice came

unique. Let's take a pictu

d a glance, a knowin

my shoulders, whispering, "Thin

e and turned tow

h Madeline, seemingly aware of our

d immediately upon s

vident in his voice, "What

arm, "Tessa, did you hear we were coming and follo

nd Rylan can do w