A sharp, splintering pain, like an ice pick driving into his marrow, shot up his arm. Caelen’s vision went black.

Just before he lost consciousness, he saw Liana, still holding Julian…

His heart clenched.

He was the son of the steel mill's director, raised by a father who was both mother and dad to him. He’d been coddled his whole life, never suffering so much as a scratch in twenty-odd years.

Liana had always been proper, calm, and composed. They loved each other. Everyone said they were a perfect match.

He’d believed it too. But why did everything change the moment Julian arrived?

…

Drifting in and out of consciousness, Caelen awoke to the sound of voices. He didn’t know how much time had passed.

“Liana, Julian is making a scene, he wants to see you. He’s hoping you’ll take him to your grandmother’s sixtieth birthday party later. Will you?”

“Maya, your brother doesn’t need to follow me everywhere.”

A moment of silence fell outside the door.

He recognized the other voice. It was Julian’s older sister, Maya Croft.

Caelen’s heart sank. He tried to sit up, but a searing pain shot through his left wrist.

Before he could make a sound, the conversation resumed.

“Liana, do you really need me to spell it out for you?”

“When Caelen and Julian both fell, you chose to catch Julian. You gave him hope. Can’t you just see it through to the end? For God’s sake, he doesn’t have long to live. Just spend a little more time with him.”

“You’re not completely without feelings for him, are you?”

Caelen’s gaze shot to the door, fixed on the silhouette of the woman standing with her back to him.

Was that true?

Did Liana have feelings for Julian?

In the next moment, he heard Liana’s uniquely gentle voice utter a single word.

“Fine.”

*BOOM.*

It was a physical blow, worse than the shattered bone in his wrist.

When he came to his senses, the hallway outside his room was empty.

The room was silent. His heart was a hollow cavern.

He pushed down the tearing pain in his chest, slowly got out of bed, and, dragging his bandaged arm, started walking home. He had to see it with his own eyes. He had to know if Liana… had really taken Julian to the party.

A short while later, he was standing outside the Croft’s house.

The sound of firecrackers popped and fizzed, a festive roar.

Laughter spilled from inside. Caelen took a deep breath, slapped his cheeks, and forced a smile before stepping in.

The moment he entered, the room went quiet for a second.

“Caelen, aren’t you supposed to be in the hospital? Why are you back?”

Seeing their uneasy glances, Caelen’s heart sank. He instinctively headed for the stairs.

“Hey! Caelen!”

The panicked shouts from behind him only made him move faster.

Soon, he reached the door of his and Liana’s bedroom.

The scene that greeted him was a dagger to the eyes.

His ‘loving wife’ and Julian Croft were locked in an embrace.

Tears streamed down Julian’s face. “Liana, I’m so jealous of Caelen. He gets to marry a wonderful woman like you. If I’d been the one to grow up with you, would you have loved me instead?”

Caelen stared at them, his gaze burning. He knew Julian was relentless, but this was a new level of depravity.

What hurt the most was that even now, Liana hadn’t pushed him away.

It takes two to tango…

*BANG!*

He slammed the door open, his voice dripping with scorn. “Yeah? So do I. Liana, who the fuck do you love?”

“Caelen!”

Only then did Liana push Julian away, rushing after him in a panic. “Let me explain…”

Caelen spun around and walked away, slapping her outstretched arm. “What is there to explain?”

“Julian’s not well, mentally or physically. He’s getting worse. He might be gone soon. I just feel sorry for him. We’re all neighbors, can’t we just try to be a little more tolerant…”

Caelen looked up at Liana, at the frantic expression on her face.

But now he couldn’t tell who she was frantic for.

He pressed his lips into a thin line. Before he could speak, a shrill, crazed scream erupted from the room.

“Caelen Rhodes, I’m already dying! Why won’t you leave me alone? Why do you have to push me to the edge!”

With that, Julian burst out of the room.

“Caelen Rhodes, go to hell!”

His face was a mask of pure madness, a pair of sharp scissors in his hand as he lunged straight for Caelen!