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And I’d felt so weak like I was allowing Maksi for s, which was co like Serena or Kartini or even Violet, I decided it didn’t matter

I was older than Maksim anyway

Older, and there I was crying over a fucking tree

See? That’s why done was my neord

Ash, my twin, had been like a second shadohich I’otten their happily ever after It see people proble like a burden

I was tempted to text Maksim, but ould I even say? I want to kill you?

He’d been silent since the bathrooht for soo back to Maksi his death

The universe hated me; it was obvious since we could have had family dinner at literally any other boss’s house, but Nikolai chose Andrei’s out of everyone

It put me in a foul mood for the entire day, which meant I missed so his murder in my head

I stared up at the massive brick three-story house

The same house I’d stayed at with Maksim’s room close by

The house I thought would change things between us at one point

The house that broke me

The boy that let it

I squeeze my eyes shut; at least Jenna won’t be here I can at least be thankful for that as I walk toward the main front door

Suits are everywhere, but I never really notice thearound the houses we all live in

Their only job is to protect us at all costs You’d think ere politicians or souess my dad actually was one, so it made sense

The air was crisp My tan Prada heels were clicking loudly against the concrete leading up to their front door My parents had already gone in, but I needed a minute because how did someone armor up when all they wanted to do was armor dohen they saw the love of their life?

I had to let hio

And tonight was the night I would do that

I would smile at him one last time—not kill him

I’d be nice

I’d res

And then I’d forget him and try to look toward the future—one without Maksim Sinacore in it

My chest physically hurt, like soain, but what choice did I have other than to let hio when he refused to quit me?