Bea froze.
The words landed like a memory. One from the version of her life that still had him in it. When Gage had arranged for people to pack and move her things, temporarily, to her apartment with Lillian.
For a second, the world felt too still.
Then her chest tightened, her breath hitching in her throat, and she barely managed to shake her head. “No.”
Georgina’s brows knit together. “Bea?—”
“I can’t,” she whispered.
The pressure collapsed on her. She curled forward, pressing her palms against her face, shoulders shaking.
Georgina was at her side in an instant, crouching beside her. “You don’t have to explain.”
But she wanted to.
She wanted to say the words that had been choking her for the past three days.
He offered me a life.
I couldn’t say yes.
And now he’s gone.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Instead, she gasped for breath. Pressed her forehead to her knees. And let Georgie smooth her hair.
Late that night, after Georgina had gone to bed and the apartment had gone still, Bea sat on the floor of her room, laptop open.
All of her things were boxed. Most of them had already been moved to the new place in Northgate.
But she couldn’t stay there. She couldn’t even stay here.
She needed to go home.
Not because it would fix anything. Because it was far, far away.
She selected the date. The time. Clicked Continue.
REMINDER | You are currently registered under Tier 4 in accordance with the Social Proximity Law. To proceed with international travel, ensure you have override clearance or confirmation from your linked party before you submit your booking. Failure to do so may result in delays. | Note: This is a reminder only. No alert has been sent to your linked party.
Bea stared at it. It was only her second encounter with this message. Last time, her response had been shock. This time, it was anguish.
She was still linked with him. Even when everything had changed.
How could she possibly go to him now? How could she ask to leave the life she’d already broken?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Then, slowly, she reached for her phone.
She hadn’t opened it in days. Dozens of messages. Missed calls. She scrolled past all of them. Until she saw it.
GAGE: In case you need it: [override code attached].
The breath left her lungs like something punched it out.
