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Not even a fucking indent in the pillow.

He’s gone.

No note. No jacket left behind. No whisper of “be back soon.”

Just the echo of last night on my skin, the throb between my thighs, and the silence that settles like a verdict.

Of course he left.

I sit up slowly, like moving too fast might shatter the spell—or me. My body aches in the best and worst ways. I’m still sore from the way he wrecked me. Still raw from how I let him.

And still stupid enough to think he might be here when I woke up.

I glance around the room, half-expecting to see him leaning against the doorframe, cocky grin in place, gray sweats slung low on his hips like some kind of cruel daydream.

But no. Nothing.

Just my phone on the nightstand.

I grab it, more out of habit than hope.

It buzzes in my hand before I even unlock the screen.

Griffin.

Because obviously this morning neededanothercomplication.

I stare at the name for a second too long, trying to decide if I’m emotionally equipped to deal with whatever righteous fury my brother’s about to unleash.

But I swipe to answer anyway, because ignoring him only makes it worse.

“What now, Griff?”

“You tell me,” He barks. “You didn’t see my text? Why the hell are there pictures of you and Liamall overthe internet?”

I blink, still half-asleep. “What?”

“You heard me. Some charity event. You two cozy as hell in front of a million damn cameras. You smiling like he’s Prince Fucking Charming.”

I open Instagram with trembling fingers. There we are—me in that black dress, Liam in the suit I peeled off him hours later. His hand on my hip. His lips at my ear. One shot where I’m laughing, and he’s looking at me like I’m the only thing in the room.

We look real.

Too real.

“It was PR,” I say flatly.

He scoffs. “You expect me to believe that?”

“You think I planned this?”

“I think you let it happen. I think youwantedit to.”

My voice stays cool. “Honestly, Griffin, it’s none of your damn business.”

“The hell it isn’t.”

He’s in full big brother mode now. Condescending. Furious. Protective in the most suffocating way.