After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 81

Pax Brown came as suddenly as he left.

One moment, he was here-his presence unsettling the entire lab, turning heads, lowering voices into hushed whispers.

The next, he was gone.

No explanations. No drawn-out goodbyes.

The others didn't understand.

I let out a slow breath, feeling the weight lift from my chest.

Beside me, Erike lowered his gaze, his long eyelashes trembling ever so slightly.

But his expression remained unreadable.

"So that's him?" he asked, his voice quiet. "The ex-boyfriend who pretended to be poor?"

I nodded.

Outside, winter had settled in fully.

Thick snowflakes drifted past the frosted windowpanes, blanketing the city in silver and white.

cracks,

fingers, trying to

Erike moved first.

he stepped forward and shut the window, sealing out the

breath of frigid air slipped through, his voice

you pretend... that it

I stilled.

the words

Then, realization dawned.

Pax's words."What are you

time, there was

Only quiet hesitation.

turned toward me, the tips of his

usually

Expectation.

A quiet, unspoken hope.

ever felt something

Maybe.

spent countless nights side by side, working until exhaustion

of proximity were