Elijah looked at me, confusion in his eyes.


    I took a deep breath and said, "Elijah, stop. I know why you''re apologizing-you''re just trying to keep this sprint because of jocelyn''s child, right?


    1 quickly added before he could reply. "Enough, Goodbye, Mr. Linden "


    Without another nce back, I turned and got into the ca


    Logan noticed w expressim and asked, "What did he say


    I tried to steady my emotions. He wants a settlement out of court."


    Legan looked at Elijah''s figure standing alone, his face tinged with sadness. Then, he turned back to me. "Are you okay?"


    I shook my head, feeling numb. Tem"


    Logan paused for a moment and handed me a tissue. "Just let it out if you''re upset


    I looked at him, my eyes dry. "I can''t cry, but why does it still hurt so much?"


    Logan''s gaze shitted slightly is it because Elijah chose to settle for the sake of jocelyn''s child?"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I let out a bitterugh. "I feel sad, but I''ve lost my memory, so it''s not because of him. I think it''s because I''ve realized I was always the one who tried


    "No matter what I did for him, no matter how much i prve up. I was always the one left behind."


    Logan''s eyes held a deep empathy, and then, in one smooth motion, he pulled me into his arms. The warmth of his embrace and his familiar scent soothed my ache, melting away lingering soczew, 1 heard his soft vore above me, "Silly girl This won''t happen again."


    I looked up at him, my voice still a bit thick, "Really?"


    "Yeah," he said with a gentle sm


    "How can you guarantee that?" I stubbornly pressed on


    He thought for a moment and suddenly lowered his head, capturing my lips in a deep lidss. "This is my guarantee," he murmured pulling me deeper into his warmth. "Is that promise enough?"


    and before 1 lew it, I waspletely lost in the overwhelming tenderness he wrapped me in


    Elijah walked back to his car slowly, his heart heavy as he opened the dot and sank into the driver''s sea


    "Elijah, what did Ms. York say? Jocelyn asked from the pallenger seat, her vos telki, "Ud agree?" Elijah rubbed his face, his tone t. "Yeah She did."


    Jocelyn let out a sigh of relied "That''s pood Taking this too wouldn''t be good for us, especially with thepany''s reputation on the line. "You have those uing bid to think about. If ourpetitors find out about any liqancial issues, we could lose everything -" She went on, rambling about the risks and consequences, but Elijah''s mind drifted, his gaze settling on a small chaim hanging from his rearview n Reaching up, be carefully took it down, his fingers running over the red string tied into a hoart-shaped knot


    i umall piece of yellow paper. Faded red markings were still visible on the paper, adding a touch of mystery to the design.


    yer of dust had gathered on it, a clear sign it had been there quite a while. His mind slipped into memories, each one sharper than thest,


    The chains was a tour of protection, something I had gone out of her way to get for him after the Einden Group''s financial crisis was solved.


    I had listened to someone''s advice and traveled to a secluded retreater in the middle of nowhere. I spent an rate month there, participating in mindfulness workshops and writing daily affirmations, just tolove a spiritual coach personally less the charm for his safety. He never would''ve inspeed that a woman so used to luxury could give it all up no phone, no TV-and spend a month thing on nothing but simple meals in the countryside.


    Thad meditated and sought puidance from every possible source, all for his well-being, and all Elijah did during that time was mock me for being superstitious,ughing at my efforts, and calling theplete waste of time.