Chapter 21: Bridges to Cross

MARCUS

Returning to the hospital room where I left Kristen, after settling everything, I felt a pang of guilt. Normally, these tasks were handled by someone else in our family, but I wanted to be there for Kristen. I wasn’t there when she needed me most, so this was the least I could do.

"Hey," I said softly as I entered, the door closing with a gentle click. Kristen seemed lost in thought, staring blankly at the pastel-colored walls and didn’t notice me at first. I gently tapped her back. "Is there a problem?"

She gave me a faint smile. "No. Can we go home now?"

I nodded.

We stopped by our family's mansion to gather our things and say goodbye to Mom. The mansion, with its grand chandeliers and opulent decor, felt cold and distant compared to the cozy home Kristen and I shared. I had to fabricate a story to explain why we were leaving, masking the truth behind a series of half-lies.

As we headed to the car, I noticed Ashton standing with his fiancée, glaring at us from a distance. His