The morning light in the office was crisp and clean, reflecting off the polished glass of Amara's desk.
Amara leaned back in her chair, the steam from her coffee rising in a gentle swirl. For the first time in weeks, her mind felt quiet. The memory of Julian's laugh from the night before was a warm hum in the back of her head.
She took a slow, peaceful sip. Then, her phone buzzed.
The vibration was aggressive, skittering across the mahogany surface like a warning. Amara set her cup down, her brow furrowing. She picked up the device, the screen glowing with a string of notifications from Seb. She didn't know how he got his new number, but he hasn't stopped sending her messages.
Seb: How could you do it, Amara?
Seb: I was ready to give up everything to earn your forgiveness. I thought you were better than this.
Seb: Seren is a child. How could you lay a finger on her?
Seb: Answer me! I saw the bruises. She told me everything.
