eyes fluttered open. This wasn't a hospital room. It was too luxurious, the wall

e window, scrolling through his phone. He look

od up and walked over to the bed. He didn't tou

whispered. My

u had a scare, An

ly going to my flat stomach. A wave of

d to the window and looked out at the cit

ey crashed into me, and the beeping of the machine next to me beca

d out. "No, y

ble. "The stress was too much for you. The d

the words tearing out of

were becoming hysterical. Making a scene. This is better. It' s

my vision blurred by tears. "That

t was a liability. You are a brilliant woman, Anya. You were letting sentiment cloud your jud

ug face, but a fresh wave of pain shot through my a

tor, the passionate collaborator, he never existed. He was a mask. And underneath w

the words filled with all

He reached out and brushed a tear from my cheek wit

er it. You're strong. And you're mine. You'r

Don't ever try to expose me. Because I have taken everything from you once.

w, I was awake. And I was in hell. A dream I had last night came to mind. In the dream, my grandmother was there, holding a strange, star-shaped compass