Part Eighty-Seven

We were staring at each other and I knew whoever backed off first would be perceived as the weaker one. I held her gaze until she looked away, an itch beneath my skin that I couldn’t explain.

“I assume you’re not married because that would just be awkward.” Mia looked up but didn’t give anything away. Her aura was neutral and I wondered why she was blocking me.

“Kiran, we’re just friends at this stage. Malachi still loves your mother very much. I’m just being a friend. Karani and I went to med school together with Stephanie and I had only now found out about what happened to them.” Her words were like a punch to my gut but I couldn’t detect any malice from her.

“Yes, he does still love her very much.” I confirmed that fact. I wondered why I was acting so bratty. Malachi wasn’t an idiot. He was the most level-headed person I knew besides James.

Adara knocked on the study’s door and opened it. Malachi smiled as she stood in the doorway and he looked at her intensely, in a way that only