Page 122 of Lunar Diamonds

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“I’m done.” He strode toward the main door, the siblings standing either side of it this whole time in silence, their berating probably coming next.

“I’ll call you with a location to send my stuff to,” he told them.

“Yes, sir,” April answered.

I couldn’t stand this. “You’re just letting him go?”

“It’s up to him, sir,” Aaron said.

“But… But we can’t give up now. We just can’t.” Defeat weighed me down. “Isaac…”

At least he had the decency to appear sad. “I’m sorry, little brother.”

Drake came up beside me. “Riley…”

I turned on him. “Leave me alone!”

He stepped back. “I?—”

“I’m not interested in anything you have to say.”

He dipped his head.

“Yeah. Carry on with the silent treatment.”

“You just said?—”

“Whatever!” I screamed like a petulant child.

Isaac left the mansion without another word. I watched the lights of his car vanish into the night with tears streaming down my face.

Drake lurked in the corner, a silent sentinel.

“Maybe I should do the same” I said, sniffling.

But I can’t do it without you,I thought.

Done with this night, the tears in full flow, I returned to my room, Drake forced into his.

Damn this mansion.

Damn this whole thing.

I threw myself onto the bed, breaking down into agonizing sobs, wishing for a time machine to take me back to Friday morning. Before the attack at work. Before my world changed.

Please…

Please let me go back…

Chapter 37

DRAKE

Iwatched the Brambles clear the beach under cover of cloaking charms through the balcony window, listening to the faint sound of Riley sobbing in the next room.

My heart contracted.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

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