BOOK II.
Four months have passed since Ashton and Ria's relationship fell into ruins. He's convinced that she hates him and she believes he never loved her. Giving up on each other, they attempt to mend their loneliness in the arms of their past; Ch...
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DANIEL HATES THEWAY his sister is staring at him. Disappointment would understate the look in her eyes so identical to his.
"Dan," she huffs and runs her hands down her tired face. "What am I going to do with you?" She leans her arms on the kitchen island allowing hair to fall over her shoulders in inky ripples.
"Don't do this." He balls his fists to push down the emotions that threaten to break through his impenetrable walls. "It's bad enough that Ashton hates me. You can't hate me too. You don't even know Vivian."
She jerks her head up and slaps her hands against the marble top. "I know she wasn't a bad person like you said she was. I know you manipulated our best friend just so he could be lonely."
"Be safe," he stresses. "I kept Ashton safe from this stupid idea of love."
Dea waves this off. "You only say that because you don't understand it like the rest of us."
"Is that my fault?" he inquires darkly and narrows his eyes. "No, it's not. I do what I have to do to get what I want."
"I know." She bows her head again and digs her fingers through her hair. She sits like this for a moment, thinking, before releasing a groan. "Not everyone is going to get your condition or understand it as much as I do. You can't expect them to accept your actions just because you don't feel empathy."
Daniel shrugs. "I don't care if they understand or not. I only care that Ashton is safe. If it were you, I'd manipulate just as many people to keep you safe."
Dea lands her tired eyes on him and the saddest of smiles stretches across her lipstick stained lips. "That's the closest to love you'll ever get."
"You know I care about you. Just like I care about Ashton. He's mine and I have a right to protect him."
"No." She reaches to touch his tense hand. "He's not yours, Dan. Ashton is not an object."
"He's my best friend, therefore he is mine," Daniel argues. "I've protected him for nearly a decade. I've been there for him through everything. Besides you, Ashton is the only one who's ever been there for me. Yet the second it comes out that I made sacrifices for him, he turns on me."
"You messed with people's lives in the process, Dan." Fatigue gradually stains her expression that's usually bright with optimism. "He told me about what Vivian went through and it's...it's awful."
"I have no control over what Vincent did to her," he deadpans.
She slides her hand from his and presses her fingers into her eyes. "You knew he abused her and you knew Ashton loved her."
"Their love was toxic."
"That is not for you to decide!" she snaps. When she looks at him again, her eyes are angrier than he's ever seen them. "Dammit. Is this a game to you?"
