ng news-he hadn't been granted the loan at his office. Disappointment we

hutting down, Rosalia," Douglas s

out chair, rubbing his temples as

g over the business. It's failing, especially with cheaper imports from C

d, refusing to let

e candidate-once I graduate, I'll f

him, eyes gliste

shaky breat

thing, you're still reaching for your

ould be fine, that their hardships wouldn't last forever-

ent, her hands gripping the edge of the dining table

ckered slightly, adding to t

tween them, thick with unspoke

, he exhaled and stood u

to see Selene," he said, his voice softer

nodded. They knew he needed some s

m, carrying with it the distant sounds of laughter from t

y before making his way down the familiar path, toward the

Rosalia asked as she cleared the dining table, w

eply, rubbing the

Rosalia. Next week, the management will meet with

ment before placing th

e if he couldn't finish-just two more months and he'd be done." H

roviding him with a stable lif

, staring down at

" His voice was quieter now, laced with uncertain

rned, her hands haltin

her brows furrowing in concern. "Di

tted. "The lawyer didn't say muc

and approached her husba

s arm. "It's been years since you reached out to them. What if

humorless chuckle,

we didn't turn to them-they turned their backs on us. We struggled al

ss takes time, yes-but don't you think twenty years is long enough? The past is the pa

eadable. He wanted to argue, to push back

e it's also time to tell Duke the

sharpened. He looked at

es. Then, without another word, she smiled softly and wrapped he

racing with thoughts, but gradually, he le

e's apartment when he caught s

es nar

the hell he is do

ing, he quickly took his leave, not

on darkened as

en't been answering my phone. I was doing laundry," Sele

eeps coming here. You'r

de, talking on the

It still does

let out a deep sigh, not wan

you have class

our way earlier, then I find

? That's unfair. He di

nd the windows. Don't let anyone in. Not even him. Especi

ew minutes later, he left again and went

rt-time job as a service crew member at

d Duke knew he couldn't afford to delay his graduation-not w

lasses, work, and studying. He only managed four hours of sleep mos

ry was barely enough to cover rent and ot

the restaurant by 7 PM, determined to see Selene even for a little while.

ocolate. Something simple, but it was all he could afford. I

shing up the dishes when s

herself, assum

pened the door

e?" she asked, surprised to see

up. I couldn't fix it, so I

eft it with me. I ca

t together-won't take long. That

e had to admit-it would be difficult

e in," she sa

. Selene, still wearing her house clothes, returned to the kitchen t

ght ruin it again," Connor said, wa

. Let's make sure it

t leave right away. Instead, he struck up a conversation, laughing and sh

lk tomorrow at school. It's getting la

Isn't your cousin staying with you?" h

be here soon

arrives. I don't feel rig

or, too. I'm used to being by myself," sh

ight with me," he sai

od up, and brought their e

't see i

plit second, he grabbed her from behind, lifting her

d unable to process what was h

her. He kissed her forcefully, trapping her wrists ag

That was when she realized it. The gum, the force

fear spiking through her body a

the door

wide, breath caught in his thr

ry over

ing him square in the jaw. The force knocked Connor of

" she cried, afraid

, holding his face,

now... Selene and I, we've had so

ing on him. "What are you t

ross the face, tears

d and stormed out of the house, his face c

e pavement, yelling his name-but he

. The shame of it all-being seen like that, accused of something so vil

uke. Over and over. But his numb

she finally gathered the courage to visit his place, the landlady told

ne. Just

do was cry. Fo

ughter, the plans-they all ended in one horrifying moment. And

ieved

ved the

od up. She knew Duke wasn't coming back. He'd left her without a trace

ill alive. Bro

d up the pie

egan to l