s heavy, broken only by t

ng with her trembling fingers. She didn't use it to wipe away her tears. She le

k of ice, radiating a silent pressu

w. The neon lights of New York blurred pas

" Everett's voice final

him to be so direct. She turned back

el," she answered hon

searching for the smallest lie.

compliment and an accusatio

she asked, a note of

crying," Everett stated, a barely perceptible smirk

if he could see through every layer of her, even the cold,

necessary to protect mys

was no turning back?" His question was

y any chance of going back, and leave herself no room for hesitation. Yet standing before this

back. "The result is the sa

earching look. It was a look that said, I know you're n

ne could hear her own heartbeat, fast and

e was interrogating her like this. S

s always in a corner, a silent observer, but now she wonder

hrough her mind: Did he alread

the stone gates of her family's home,

moved to open the door. "Thank

as already out of the car, opening her

no room to refuse. They walked

strand of her long hair and brushing

for a fraction of a sec

ne turned to say goodnigh

he said, his voice formal. "I will handle

u," she w

dark she felt like she could fall into them. "I'm just cleaning up my f

gestion that her life was just begi

r, he added one last thing, his voice dr

me rest

de her freeze. She stood there, keys in hand, long af