Love Unspoken

Alexander gracefully lifted his glass from the table, taking a delicate sip. Oliver, having been lost in thought, suddenly piped up, "Alexander, is this really about Getty?" It was evident that Oliver had seen Getty's social media post but had chosen to refrain from engaging.

Despite the prevalence of social networks, Oliver was a ghost in the digital world."You're overstepping. You should be more concerned about keeping your sister in line," Alexander retorted, skillfully deflecting the question. To Oliver, this deflection served as a tacit admission. He couldn't help but marvel at the complexity of love. "Some people don't have to be extraordinary. They just need to find someone who adores them wholeheartedly." Alexander gently caressed his glass, his expression unreadable, offering no response to Oliver's insightful remark.---Quinn lay sprawled on the couch, her consciousness wavering between sleep and wakefulness.

Haunting images from the news and vicious online comments plagued her dreams. She dreamt of Abigail, unable to withstand the onslaught of cyberbullying, leaping from the top of a skyscraper. The moment Abigail jumped, Quinn's heart plummeted in tandem. Abruptly, she woke up, staring blankly at the ceiling. The soft murmur of the television filled the room, accompanied by the gentle patter of rain against the windowpane. Amber Bay was no stranger to such wet weather. Suddenly, the distinct clicks of the keypad lock on the front door pulled her from her reverie. She sat upright, her gaze fixed on the entrance. The door swung open, revealing Alexander's silhouette. He brushed rain droplets off his shoulders and stepped inside, pausing as his gaze fell on Quinn. Glancing at his watch, it read 2:30 AM. "You haven't gone to bed?" he asked, immediately realizing the redundancy of his question. When had he ever come home to find Quinn asleep? This time, however, she didn't rise to take his coat, a minor detail that tinged his mood with a hint of the unusual. He hung his coat himself and approached Quinn, taking a seat beside her. "Didn't I tell you not to wait up for me?" His fingers traced her cheek, the cold from outside chilling her skin.

'To him, I'm still just a child. Is it futile for him to be mad at a child?' she pondered.Quinn gestured with her hands, "Why?" Alexander's fingers, which

and even her questions seemed superfluous. Just like when he burned the painting Abigail had given her he didn't need a reason. If there was one, it

go to bed," Alexander declared, scooping her up and heading for the staircase. Once in bed, his hands began to wander

and turned away from him, her body language silently refusing him. But her resistance was futile. He gripped her shoulder, pulling her back toward him. His fingers brushed against her injury, and the sharp pain made her world go dark