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.

slipping through the narrow cracks, sending

curled my fingers, trying to shake off the

Erike moved first.

stepped forward and

frigid air slipped through,

pretend... that it was for

I stilled.

second, the words

Then, realization dawned.

Pax's words."What are you

time, there was no teasing.

Only quiet hesitation.

turned toward me, the tips of

usually steady gaze flickering with something

Expectation.

A quiet, unspoken hope.

I ever felt

Maybe.

spent countless nights side by side, working until

born out of proximity were just that—a passing warmth, not