Riley’s POV

“Thanks,” I said, my voice barely audible, husky bfrom /bfatigue and something heavier I didn’t care to name.

I mimicked his motion, cing the cigarette between my lips, though I’d never smoked a day in my life. It wasn’t about nicotine. It was about pretending I wasn’t on the verge of falling apart.

The sound of a lighter broke the stillness. Then his hand appeared–lean, strong fingers and a flickering me illuminating the shadows of the stairwell.

I hesitated, then leaned down, lighting the cigarette from his.

The first drag hit my lungs like fireb. /b

I coughed violently, doubling over, the taste of nicotine band /bash wing down my throat. I spat the smoke out quickly. blinking away tears.

He arched a brow. “You don’t smoke”

1 shook my head, trying to steady my breath. “Just figured I’d try it… seemed fitting.”

He didn’t reply. Just leaned back against the wall band /bstared into the bsilence /blike he belonged to it.

I sank down onto the stairs, the concrete cold beneath me. The cigarette trembled between my fingers as I forced myself to btake /banother drag–shallower this time.

Didn’t help.

Didn’t ease the ache in my chest or the weight in my bones.

It was the kind of bsilence /bthat didn’t bneed /bwords. The kind that swallowed sound, leaving behind only questions no one wanted to answer.

He smoked in silence too. When he finished, he crushed the butt beneath his heel and rose.

Step by step, he ascended the stairs, boots echoing like a bwar /bdrum.

And just before he reached the exit, he turned back.

He looked at me–really looked. At the hunched shoulders. The gauntface. The spark at my fingertips that barely passed for fire anymore.

Then he walked baway/b.

And I sat there for a long timeb. /b

Eventually, I stood. My body felt like stone. I just wanted to lie down. To not feel anything anymore.

But when I opened the door to my hospital room, any hope of rest was obliterated.

He was there.

Maddox.

Sitting by the window, sunlight casting a halo around him blike /bsome divine lie. His tailored clothes. His clean–cut face. bThat /bsoft, familiar scent that used to bringfort.

Now it made my stomach twistb. /b

He stood the second he saw me. “Riley-”

1 stepped aside, letting him breach /bbout/bb, /band then brushed past his hand like it meant nothing.

His hand hovered in the air for a beat, then curled into a fist. “Where bdid /byou gob?/b”

Letoutes us the best and turned my back to him.

“Tho

te met agam “Do you want fruit? I can peel you an apple

+8 Pearls

Myugh was humorless “The honorable Judge Maddox is a busy man. If you’re here, it’s not to peel fruit. Just get to the

That but him I didn’t care

He sighest “Did you pushy Scarlett down the stairs?”

Estibald’ve known.

Not a word in five years. Not a visit during my sentencing But now that Scarlett had a scratch on her porcin skin, suddenly he had done for me.

1 lookest at bins, voice cold. “Yes, I did it.”

e reeled slightly. You’re not even going to deny it?”

Why should I? You’ve bnot /bbhere /bfor the truth. You never were.” I bgave /bhim a t, bitter smile. “So what’s next? Another sentence? Five years? Ten? Just tell me how long this time, and I’ll pack my bags”

He stared bat /bme, stunned silent. “Riley.. you are bmy /bmate and I’d never want to hurt

Inearlyughed.

But it wasn’t funny

“You’ve already done worse,” I

Is

dangerous. You rejected me as your mate. And now you want to talk about bwhat /byou would bnever /bdo?”

id souly. “You stood on the witness stand and let them cage me like a beast. You called me

His jaw clenched. “I came to check on you.”

I turned my back, “I don’t need your concern.

His voice cracked. “What do you want from bme/b. Riley? You think I haven’t suffered too? I’ve been trying to reach you ever since you were released, but you won’t beven /blook at ine. What do you want me to do?!”

I finally looked at hun eyes like ice. “I want you to understand what it means to be falsely used. To be betrayed by the people who were supposed to protect you

He froze

I didn’t stop. “You talk about pain blike /byou invented it. But I lived it. Maddox. Every minute of those five years, bAnd /byou want me to move on! Let it go? Just because it’s convenient for byou/b?”

His eyes were red “Scarlett saved bmy /blife. She paid for my education. I owed her

“No” My voice bwas /bsteel. “You repaid that d by sentencing the wrong person. Don’t tell bme /babout honor. You weaponized the bw /bto bucak me

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

I

1 stool. “If you’re not here to put me bback /bin chains, then get out. If you are–bwell/b, I’m not afraid of prison anymore.”

“I’m not here to hurt you” bhe /bwhispered

That byou /balready have”

He stepped forward “Please, Riley-

+8 Pearls

He moved too fast.

His hand mped over my mouth. His weight crushed me into the mattress. I thrashed, trying to break free, but he was

strongerb. /b

He was always stronger.

His hand shifted, covering not just my mouth–but my nose.

Panic exploded in my chest.

I couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t scream.

The world spun, stars bursting behind my eyes.

And then-

“LET HER GO!”

bMia’s /bvoice.

A sh of silver.

The ng of a thermos crashing against his head.

He let go.

doll.

And in the same second–he snapped. Maddox whirled band /bkicked Mia across the room like a rag d She hit the wall with a sickening bthud/b.

“MIA!” I screamedb, /bstaggering toward her, blood roaring in my ears.

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