Via had always had a pull on him, a claim that summoned him whenever storms rattled her windows, whenever fear drove her into the night. I had argued, demanded, even threatened, but he always replied,
“Those with corrupt hearts see betrayal everywhere.”
Every abandonment had been repaired with flowers, gestures, and promises that lured me back into a love that had never truly been mine. But tonight, beneath the indifferent gaze of the city skyline, I understood—I was done.
This time, I would not return.
As I stepped out of the council room after the day’s business, I saw him waiting near the edge of the compound. Streetlights glinted off his broad shoulders and tall, commanding frame, every movement precise, deliberate, as if the city itself had carved him. Even passing associates couldn’t help but steal glances.
If it had been any other evening, I might have walked straight to him, letting him guide me to a quieter corner of the estate where fewer eyes could watch. But not tonight. Tonight, I wanted to pass as if I had never seen him.