Chapter 12
Lucas watched her trembling lashes, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I don’t mean it that way.”
“Then what DO you mean?” Madison’s tears were falling now. “Ever since Aria left, you’ve been getting stranger and stranger…”
That name hit him like a blade to the chest. He gripped his fists, nails digging crescents into his palms. “Don’t
mention her.”
“I will mention her!” Madison sobbed. “Are you still thinking about her? What’s so special about that pathetic doormat anyway…”
“ENOUGH!” Lucas slammed his hand on the desk, sending the food container flying. Sauce splattered across his suit
pants.
Dishes crashed to the floor as both of them froze.
Madison recovered first, crying as she ran from the office.
Lucas stood among the wreckage, staring at the brown stains on his pants, suddenly remembering how Aria would immediately kneel to clean up spills with a stain–removal pen she always carried.
She was always like that–perpetually prepared, perpetually….
He grabbed his jacket and rushed from the office. His secretary called after him: “Mr. Sinclair, you have a board meeting at seven…”
“Cancel it.”
The elevator doors closed on his ragged breathing.
In the city’s neon–soaked night, Lucas drove aimlessly until he found himself at the riverbank.
This was where Aria was last seen, where police tape still fluttered from the railings.
He leaned against his car and lit a cigarette, the flame flickering in the darkness.
His phone buzzed incessantly with Madison’s calls. Lucas ignored every one, just watched the flowing water.
Eventually his phone went quiet. A text appeared: [Lucas, I’m waiting at home. I’m sorry for losing my temper.]
Lucas stared at the message for a long time, feeling strangely disconnected.
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Chapter 12
Home? Where was that?
The apartment Madison had decorated with her photos covering every wall, her favorite flowers on every table, matching cartoon slippers by the door…?
Everything there was exactly how she liked it, but nothing how he liked it…
He stubbed out the cigarette and drove off, realizing he had absolutely no desire to go back there.
At 2 AM, Lucas checked into a hotel suite.
This was his third hotel stay this week.
In the bathroom mirror, dark circles shadowed his eyes.
Hot water pounded his shoulders as he remembered how Aria used to silently prepare fresh clothes and toiletries in his office rest area after long nights.
Details he’d once taken for granted now felt like thorns in his heart.
His phone lit up on the nightstand.
Lucas simply turned it off and collapsed onto the bed. Outside his window, city lights blazed on, but he felt more
alone than ever.
The next morning, Lucas was awakened by knocking.
Madison stood outside his door, eyes swollen like peaches.
worried…” She threw herself into his arms. “Promise me you won’t disappear like that again. I promise I’ll tion her again.”
stood rigidly, not returning her embrace.
Madison’s perfume was giving him a headache–when had he stopped liking that scent he used to love?
“I need to get to the office.” He gently pushed her away.
“Will you come home for dinner tonight? I’ll have the chef…”
“I have business dinners. Sorry…” Lucas cut her off, his coldness surprising even himself.
As the elevator doors closed, he saw Madison standing there with fresh tears streaming down her face.
Strangely, he felt absolutely nothing.
Driving to work, Lucas impulsively stopped at a coffee shop.
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Chapter 12
“What can I get you?” the barista smiled.
“Americano, with…” he began.
“One–third milk, no sugar, right?” The girl operated the machine expertly. “Miss Winters used to order it exactly like
this.”
Lucas’s whole body went rigid. “You knew her?”
“Miss Winters? She used to come in all the time.” The barista handed him the coffee.
Lucas accepted the cup, its warmth exactly matching his memory.
Standing outside the shop, watching hurried pedestrians, he suddenly realized a terrifying truth-
Aria had woven herself into every corner of this city.
The traces she’d left in his life ran far deeper than he’d ever imagined.
And now he understood: some habits, once formed, can never be broken.
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