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Chapter 36: A Sudden Rift

last update Last Updated: 2025-01-15 20:26:07

Adrian had this habit of brushing a stray strand of hair from my face whenever we were deep in conversation. It was such a small thing, but it always made my heart flutter. That night, as we sat together on the couch, I couldn’t help but notice he didn’t do it.

It had been happening for days now—these tiny shifts that made me question everything. His hand no longer lingered on mine as it used to. His smiles didn’t quite reach his eyes. I told myself it was just my imagination, but deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.

“Adrian,” I said softly, breaking the silence that had settled over us. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting warm shadows across his face. He looked up from the book he wasn’t really reading, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Yeah?” he replied, his voice calm but distant.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’ve been... different lately.”

For a moment, he didn’t respond, and I could see the hesitation in his eyes. “I’m fine,”
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