CHAPTER 79

VARYA’S POV

The room was a black, airless hole that matched the huge weight on my chest. I was lying on the bed looking at the ceiling and crying my heart out. My mind ran through everything that had happened the entire day like a stuck record—scandal, accusations, and Kylo’s painful words.

Not only had I lost all reputation but also Kylo believed the worst about me. My heart hurt so much it felt like slow disintegration.

Everyone else in the house was asleep and quiet reigned supreme here. It was almost spooky with its lack of movement, save for my heavy breathing.

I closed my eyes wanting to get lost in darkness but there were no answers from within me; instead, inner turmoil crumpled me up inside as though to say: “No.”

All of a sudden, the silence is broken by a creaking sound at the door. My heart raced towards my mouth as I looked up at its source. In this dim light his figure made out just within the doorway stood Kylo.

Thin smells of whiskey combined with faint hints of cologn