Chapter 21

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.

frosted windowpanes, blanketing the city in silver

slipping through the narrow cracks, sending an icy chill

curled my fingers, trying to shake off the numbness.

Erike moved first.

he stepped forward and shut the window, sealing out

frigid air slipped through, his

that it was

I stilled.

a second, the words didn’t register.

Then, realization dawned.

Pax’s words.“What are you looking

time,there was no teasing. No arrogance.

51.24

Chapter 21

Only quiet hesitation.

the tips of his

his lips together, his usually

Expectation.

quiet, unspoken hope.

felt something

Maybe.

had spent countless nights side by side, working until exhaustion blurred the edges

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