ollege library, her notebook spread open beside her, cr

her eyes scanning each page like she was piecing together a secret only she could

ng slightly. There was something abou

the aisle, their laughter cutting

nough to carry, "if Craig Lesnar looks a

gling. "That guy could ruin my l

osture shif

n front of her, but her ears sh

as hell," the fi

car he picked h

wingly. "Guys like Craig? They get bored.

fted somewhere else entirely. Her jaw tightened as she snapped t

*

ld despite the gleaming surfaces. Everything was to

of scotch heavy in his hand, staring into the d

y barely contained, while Melissa sat curled up o

, voice measured. "For us. How many ti

ed. "Good for you? Or

is drink slowly, clinging to control. "She's present

Present... like a goddaughter waiti

s slow but sharp, his gaze cut

anymore. He stood up, his body al

e said. "Smile for your rep

s Mom's goddaughter, Dad. Her goddaughter." The words

arely - and masked it b

ore things fell apart," he said quietly.

"Did she know you before Mom left too? Were yo

e thic

just for a heartbeat -

now what you

oked at you. I saw the way you let her." Aiden set his gla

l not let you rewrite wha

tair whispered, his rage tre

, betrayal - it hung between them

e words. "Did you ever love her, Dad? Or wer

ow warning. "You're blinded by grie

d, standing his gr

stop me," Aiden shot b

ough like a whisper breaking glass. "She's

. There were no words left big enough t

ing. "You stopped seeing us. Even when we're right here. So t

r. Only

e turned and walked away, his pain

And Aiden stood at the window, swallowed by the night

in a whisper only the walls could hear

ht pressed in, c