"What?"
"Obsidian Aegis purchased your entire debt portfolio three hours ago. Medical bills. Back rent. Credit card balances. All of it. You owe nothing."
My brain stutters.
"You... you paid it off?"
"Yes."
"But—"
"Your exclusive contract is terminated," he continues, his tone flat. "Effective immediately. You will receive a severance payment equivalent to six months of your current salary. You are free to seek employment elsewhere."
The words do not make sense.
They do notfit.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, my voice rising. "You're firing me?"
"I am releasing you from your obligations."
"That's the same thing!"
"It is not."
"Cyprian—"
"Leave."
The word is a command.
Cold.
Absolute.
Final.
I stare at him, my chest heaving, my vision blurring with tears.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"No. No, you don't. You're just—you're scared. You're hurt. But we can fix this. We can—"
"There is nothing to fix," he says. "You made your choice. You chose to hide the truth from me. You chose to protect yourself instead of trusting me."
"Because I was terrified!" I shout. "Because loving you is the scariest thing I've ever done, and I didn't know how to—"
"Do not say that word."
His voice drops to a growl.
Low.
Dangerous.
"Do not say you love me when you could not even trust me with the truth."
