Silver Linings

T W E N T Y O N E

before we begin, I want to give a shoutout to two writers on Wattpad who have caught my attention and full support for their current books: Nives2109 and _DemonGoddesss_ !

I have been reading your book since it came out Nives, and I'm always anxiously waiting for when the next one will come out. Mya, I've been reading your books—then going back and re-reading them—for just about six years now. I thoroughly enjoy how you both write your plots and drama, and I'm excited for what's coming next! ❤️❤️

If you haven't gotten the chance to find their books, I'd highly recommend getting a chance to do so now.

Now, without further ado...😏

* * *

Silas

JULIANA GUIDES ME THROUGH HER PENTHOUSE WHILE I CARRY GENEVIEVE IN MY ARMS. We've barely spoken a word since Genevieve defeatedly got in the car and passed out on the backseat, but I know she wants to raise Hell for the dramatic entrance I made. And that isn't even brushing the surface of the week; I won't be surprised if she has an entire speech written out, dedicated to shaming and belittling me in as many ways she knows how.

    But I can't be bothered to care.

    Gem's right—I was selfish to drive several hours simply because she agreed to take my advice and stay away—but I needed to see her again. The moment she left the manor, and my temper settled, regret became my best friend. I had felt so betrayed that the one person I confided in about what it felt to be...well, me, had only been sent to keep tabs on me and report to her bastard father. It didn't take long after she left to realize I would have rather stayed angry and still see her than throw her out of the manor for good.

I considered coming here to bring her back with me every hour for the past seven days, yet the rational side of me believed it was smart to have her stay away. My mark becomes fainter every day I spend with her and the last thing I want is for Genevieve to see the...thing I become when I don't have the barrier keeping it at back. And considering she agreed to the decision, there's no reason for me to even be here.

    But like she said. I'm selfish.

    Juliana pushes a door open, revealing a sage green-painted room with an ivory dresser, a vanity, and a queen-size bed sitting in the center.

"Don't take long," she murmurs as I walk into the room, tightening my hold on Genevieve. "We need to talk."

She softly closes the door, leaving us alone.

Besides a twitch here and there, Genevieve is knocked out cold. I walk around the bed and carefully place her on it, brushing a golden strand of hair from her face. She has bags under her eyes, and they look swollen even when she's sleeping. It only increases the sinking feeling in my stomach knowing I'm the reason she looks like this. Genevieve has no one in Elgantis who understands her and I was her haven from them—even I turned my back.

I pull my hand from her face when it twists up and she groans. She'll be feeling that liquor hard in the morning.

I walk to the dresser and pull the drawers open until I spot one of my button-ups resting over her other pajama shirts. My stomach clenches more.

"Dammit, Gem." I remove it from the dresser and stare down at it, sighing. "What are you doing to me?"

I softly close the drawer and turn back to the unconscious woman in bed; instead of lying on her back when I was last looking at her, Genevieve rests on her side with half her face smothered in the pillows.