Ryan's POVI wiped my palms on my jeans as Benita cornered me in the hallway. She stared at me with contempt as I watched how her lips formed a thin line. "Ryan, make yourself useful for once. Go help Carol with her project. She waits in her room."I couldn't help but feel irritated. Even robots shut down. Still here I am, working my ass off because of love. Benita had treated me like a nobody for four years, even to my face, despite my marriage to Claire. I nodded as I kept my voice as calm as possible."I will help her."I walked slowly towards Carol's door, knocked, and waited for her response. This reminded me of the day that I just knocked and entered. I shockingly met her going down on one of her cousins and she threatened me that if I ever spill, I'll be doomed. So, till today, no one ever knew.I waited. I almost knocked the second time when I heard Carol's voice. “Come in!”I opened the door and stepped inside as the hinges squeaked. She sat at her desk, her laptop glowing as

Ryan's POVOn my way back to the hotel, I passed by Claire’s company. I did not plan to stop, but something caught my eye through the wide glass windows.She was there.Claire stood outside with a man I had never seen before. They were talking or no, they were gisting, laughing, leaning too close.His hand brushed her arm, then her hair, and she did not flinch. She smiled. She had a banquet of fresh flowers in her hands, white lilies and red roses, tied with a satin ribbon. The kind of flowers you give to someone you are close to.I sat on my bike, watching from across the street, the engine rumbling beneath me.*It has not even been a day.*Less than twenty-four hours ago, she was in a room with me, signing divorce papers, accusing me without proof, throwing away four years of marriage like a broken pen. And now she stood there with him with flowers in her hand.I wanted to look away, but I could not. The thought pressed against my skull. Has she moved on already? Maybe she had moved

Ryan's POVSarah poured the last of the wine into my glass. We had been talking for hours, and I was starting to feel lighter than I had in weeks. She leaned back in her chair, studying me for a moment.“You know,” she said, “you never told me where you’re staying.”I shrugged. “Nowhere specific. I’ve been crashing at a hotel. Haven’t really decided where I’ll settle yet.”Her eyebrows rose. “You’re divorced, right?”“Yeah,” I said, leaning back. “Why?”She smirked. “Then you don’t have a reason to be alone in some hotel. Why don’t you come see my place? It’s not far.”I hesitated. “You sure?”“Of course,” she said. “Unless you’re scared of me.”I shook my head. “No. Let’s go.”We got into her car. A black SUV with tinted windows. She was driving, two of her men in the front seats. I sat in the back, next to her.We were halfway there when it happened.Out of nowhere, two bikes came up fast on our right. Before I could even process it, one of the riders pulled a gun and started firing

Ryan's POVI gasped for air, still trying to understand what had just happened. My ears were still ringing. The only thing I was sure of was that the shot hadn’t come from me. I turned my head and saw someone else standing behind Sarah.It was one of her guards…Sarah standing a few feet away. “I told you,” she said calmly, looking straight at me. “If you don’t kill them, they will kill you.”Then she turned and started walking away.I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. I’ve never believed anyone has the right to take another person’s life, not even if that person tries to take yours. That belief didn’t change now, no matter what Sarah thought or how close I’d just come to dying.Neither of us could sleep after that. I sat on the couch, staring at nothing, replaying the moment over and over. Sarah paced the room like she was trying to walk it off. Then, sometime after midnight, the front door opened fast.Her father rushed in.“Sarah!” he called. He went straight to her and hugged her t