Annelise Valentine stared at the will for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. The last glimmer of light in her eyes died in an instant.
The densely packed words swam before her eyes, every page telling the same story—in his past and future, the only one he had ever loved was Selene Hawthorne.
She didn't read any further.
She closed the file and placed it back in the safe, untouched. Aside from the gun, she hadn't moved a thing.
With a gentle push, CLICK, the safe door closed.
Along with all her resentment, all her expectations, and those fantasies of 'maybe he does love me,' she locked them all away.
She would never open it again, never touch it again, never harbor any false hopes or illusions again.
Zane Patterson: "Annelise, are you alright?"
Annelise Valentine turned to look at him, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile. "I'm fine. Let's go."
Zane Patterson didn't press further. This wasn't the time for questions or comfort.
