Chapter 52

Carter

I sat at the bar in the dimly lit mansion, nursing my drink as I stared into the amber liquid swirling in the glass. The weight of recent events pressed heavily on my mind, yet I couldn't escape the thoughts that plagued me. Why had I done what I did? Was it worth it? Questions that clawed at my conscience, questions that I wished would fade away, but they didn't. Instead, the more I tried to get rid of the thoughts and questions, the more that ran through my mind.

The sound of approaching footsteps disrupted my reverie, and I tensed slightly, already knowing who it was before he even spoke. Colin. Always with a knack for finding me when I least wanted to be found.

He plopped down onto the seat beside me with an unceremonious thud, his presence looming large.

"Carter, I'm not going to mince words with you." he began, his voice tinged with curiosity and accusation all at once. "Why the hell did you marry Willow in secret? And did you have to drug her?"

I sighed inwardly, st