Page 35 of Bound By Crimson

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July turned to August.

It had been nearly two months since Lyric last saw Kai. But he never truly felt far.

Their days and nights were threaded together by constant texts, phone calls that stretched into the quiet hours, and small gestures that made the distance bearable.

Most nights, after closing the shop and visiting her parents’ grave, her phone would buzz the second she stepped inside—like he knew she’d just walked through the door.

Tell me how your day was.

I can’t stop thinking about you.

Soon.

She had memorized his voice through the phone—the possessiveness in it, the rare softness that only seemed meant for her.

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In the first week of July, Rowan had called one last time.

“I just wanted to say goodbye,” she’d said gently. “I leave for New York today.”

Lyric had paused, her fingers tight around the phone. “I…. I’m sorry, I just wasn’t ready to meet. I just… need more time.”

“I understand. I hope someday we can talk again.”

The call ended.

Lyric hadn’t heard from Rowan since.

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At first, they were easy to ignore—texts from Eric.

Eric:I ended things with Rowan. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I made a mistake.

A few days later:

Lyric, you’ve changed so much. You’re absolutely stunning. You’ve always been the one.

Later:

Come on, Lyric. I know you’re trying to make me suffer, but haven’t I suffered enough? You and I were meant to be together. We both know it. Let’s stop fighting fate.

That was when she told Kai.

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She sat on her bed, fingers tracing the edge of her phone. “I should have told you sooner.”

His voice was instantly alert. “What’s wrong?”

“Eric’s been messaging me.”

She read him the texts. All of them.

“I’ve ignored every single one,” she said quickly. “I want nothing to do with him.”

For a moment, Kai didn’t speak. When he did, his voice was low. Controlled. Dangerous.

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