ra waited until the pain faded enough for her to move. Sweat slicked her skin as she finally pushed herself up, her lips almost colorless. Simon''s voice was still in the air, but it was like she was underwater-she couldn''t catch a single word.

    When he saw her stand, Simon repeated himself, sharper this time. "Are you going to say yes or not?"

    ra barely had time to open her mouth before Megan''s voice cut through.

    "ra, I have to tell you something. While I was looking after you at Palm Bay these past few days, I discovered a secret. Remember that red bead bracelet you gave your boyfriend? I found it in Mr. Dn''s study, in one of his drawers. There was a ring too—a matching pair to the one you wear. I think it''s the couple''s ring you gave him. I have no idea why Mr. Dn has both those things, and I don''t even want to guess. Just... please be careful, ra. I don''t want you risking yourself for me—you''re already hurt enough."

    As she spoke, Megan was already untying the ropes around her wrists. "If you get

    a chance, check that drawer. I''m sure you''ll find something you need."

    Thest knot slipped free, and before anyone could react, Megan dropped from the ledge.

    Simon froze, staring in disbelief. He''d nned to use Megan as leverage against ra, but Megan had taken matters into her own hands.

    He lunged for the rope, yanking desperately-but there was nothing at the end. No weight. Just empty air.

    He stood there, rooted, eyes fixed on the cliff''s edge, too rattled to even see where Megan had fallen. He stumbled back, pale and shaken.

    "How... how is that possible?" he muttered, voice trembling. "How could she just let go like that?"

    He couldn''t understand it. Then, a gunshot split the silence.

    He turned slowly. ra stood there, gun in hand, her eyes distant and cloudy. Her voice was t, every word cutting. "Simon, you''re useless. No matter what

    happens, you''re always just a coward. I really thought, after everything, you might have grown up a little."

    Simon''s hand went to his stomach, blood seeping between his fingers. His face turned ghostly white.

    Nothing hurt more than hearing those words from the woman you loved.

    He gave a bitter, twistedugh. "A coward? Yeah, you''ve never thought much of me, ra. Not after all these years. So why pretend? Why act like you cared? Why string me along? Who do you think you are? My feelings mean nothing to you, and now you want to kill me? Fine! Do it. Even if I be a ghost, I''ll haunt you forever."

    He was falling apart, and he knew it.

    He''d always known he wasn''t Dn He wasn''t any of those other men she could have had. But still-why couldn''t she see anything good in him?

    SWI

    His anger and pain mixed together, burning inside. He hated it. Hated that he cared so much.

    ra didn''t even bother to fire again. She turned around and started walking away.

    Simon''s tears fell, fat and silent, hitting the ground. He clenched his jaw, trying not to sob.

    "ra!" he called, his voice cracking. "ra!"

    She never looked back.

    Simon didn''t even know what he was fighting for anymore.

    He stumbled backward, staring after her cold, receding silhouette, the tears stilling.

    He''d thought all this time that it was Dn he hated, that it was the past he couldn''t let go of. But seeing ara so distant, so cold—hischeart more than any wound

    He''d always tried to convince himself he didn''t love her that much.

    But now? He finally got it. How could he not love her?

    He''d seen her at her brightest, her

    best. how, there was no room for him in her life. Not

    felt worse than dying. Co

    "ra, just look at me. Please, just look at me..."

    It

    He whispered the words, bit down hard on his lip, and without another second''s hesitation, stepped off the edge.

    So pathetic. So sad. His life really was worth nothing.

    To ra, he was nothing more than a weed-something to be brushed aside.

    What had he ever been hoping for? Someone like him was never going to make it out of this alive.

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