Alexander gracefully lifted his ss 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.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Despite the prevalence of socialworks, 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 theplexity of love. "Some people don''t have to be extraordinary. They just need to find someone who adores them wholeheartedly." Alexander gently caressed his ss, his expression unreadable, offering no response to Oliver''s insightful remark.---Quinny sprawled on the couch, her consciousness wavering between sleep and wakefulness.
Haunting images from the news and vicious onlinements gued her dreams. She dreamt of Abigail, unable to withstand the onught of cyberbullying, leaping from the top of a skyscraper. The moment Abigail jumped, Quinn''s heart plummeted in tandem. Abruptly, she woke up, staring nkly at the ceiling. The soft murmur of the television filled the room, apanied 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. ncing 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 evere 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.
Her eyes remained locked on him, hisposure unchanged as if nothing had transpired. ''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 had been resting on her face, stilled. He studied her intensely before cracking a half-smile, "Are you scolding me?"
Quinn pressed her lips together. She had no right to scold, 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 was simply because Abigail had hurt the woman he loved.
Silence once again enveloped the living room, the sound from the TV amplifying the emptiness of the vi. "Let''s go to bed," Alexander dered, scooping her up and heading for the staircase. Once in bed, his hands began to wander restlessly.
Quinn felt constricted and turned away from him, her bodynguage 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 as she inhaled sharply.