t my plea. A flicker of something akin to regret crossed his features. He stepped towards me,

split second, a fragile hope flared within me, a desperate wish that the man I once loved was still

tching us with narrowed eyes. The softness vanished from his face, r

m again, the brief moment of vulnerability gone. "Aimee' s

was choosing her again. Always her. The air sud

looked up. A tall, unstable display stand, holding a massive canvas of Aimee's work, began to sway preca

The display stand, now a monstrous wooden and metal skeleton,

falling debris. Brennan, a primal roar tearing from his throat, didn't hesitate. His eyes locked onto

y arm. The world spun, then went dark. As consciousness slipped away, the last thing I saw was Brennan, his

ose. "I'll always protect you, Garnet. Always." He said it in our penthouse, bathed in the golden light of sunset, his arms a comforting cage

enderly, now echoed in my mind as hollow, empty words. The phanto

che throbbed in my head, and my left arm was a searing inferno of pain. I

e screen lit up, displaying a news headline, plastered across every major online publication: "CEO Brennan Monroe Heroically Saves

asn't she? Probably pushed Aimee into the way!" "Typical diva, making it all about herself even

decided who the villain was. And it wasn

own me. But beneath it, a cold, hard ember of resolve began to glow. I w

mpled. He stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the pristine room, the

weariness I hadn't heard before. "You're awake

y voice raw and raspy. "Didn't

re upset. But Aimee... she was in shock. I had to make sure she was okay fi

for her tragic art, aren't I? The muse for her latest hit single, 'Shattered Lullaby,' perhaps?" My gaze fe

dy recoiling from his touch as if it was fire. The air in the room solidified, thick and unbreat