Page 308 of Ruin Me Gently

I let out a breath, toying with the hem of his shirt. “It’s like… I’ve spent so long stuck in fight or flight. And now there’s nothing to fight.” I paused, tilting my head. “And Ireallydon’t feel like running either.”

“That’s a good thing, sweetheart,” he said, brushing a hand over my temple.

Silence settled between us—comfortable, warm, filled with the sound of steady breathing and the lazy drag of fingers over skin.

And that was it, wasn’t it?

For the first time, I could… be. No looking over my shoulder. No waiting for the worst. No feeling like I was one wrong move away from falling apart.

Just me. Just him. Just peace.

I’d moved out of my house. Packed what little I owned, given Katniss permanent residential status at the penthouse, and we’d made this place ours. I was back working at Sonnets and Spines, back to working my proper shifts, back to seeing Molly every day, back to something that actually felt normal.

Even if Silas did call in at least twice a day to‘check in.’

(Twice a day, my ass—he wasn’t subtle, I could see his car outside.)

But honestly? I didn’t mind.

It didn’t feel suffocating. It didn’t feel like I was being watched. It felt… safe.

I liked it.

I likedthis.

I swallowed hard, fingers curling against his chest as I met his eyes.

“I’m happy.” The words felt foreign, shaky, like I wasn’t sure if I should claim them as my own yet.

For so long, I thought happiness had to come at a price. That to feel safe meant to be trapped. That to be loved meant to endure.

And I used to hateherfor that.

My fingers trailed up the delicate chain at my throat, brushing against the locket nestled at my collarbone.

Iwasn’tEvelyn. And for that, I was beyond thankful.

I’d never fully grasp why she stayed. Why she let him crush her down, year after year until there was nothing left but pills and a husk of a woman. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was love. Maybe it was both.

Maybe it didn’t matter anymore.

Because she was gone. Because she had let him take everything from her until she had nothing left to give. And the truth was, I’d never forgive her. Not for the way she let him hurt her. Not for the ways she let him hurtme.

But I didn’t hate her anymore. I’d been in her shoes—if only for a short amount of time. And it had broken me in ways I didn’t think were possible.

Despite that, I knew that I couldn’t carry it anymore.

I wasn’t a child looking for an apology. I wasn’t waiting for answers that would never come. And if I kept holding onto that bitterness, that resentment, thatache—then it wouldn’t just be her who lost everything.

It would be me, too.

I had to let it go. Not for her. For me.

Because I’d fought too hard to crawl out of that life. Because I’d survived. Because I had something real, something good, something I never thought I’d have.

Because Silas was right there, and he’d thrown every part of himself at my feet, raw and willing, waiting for me to pick it up andaccept it.

I stroked my fingers over his brow. “You’re happy too, right?”

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