Chapter 59. Push Me Away

Fear began to bubble up from within Emerald, followed closely by doubt. She had grown up in a world shattered by resentment, devoid of love, filled only with complaints and blame. She had been her mother's emotional outlet. She didn't want her child to endure the same. She had suffered enough.

For Emerald, taking action was a way to escape. When she needed to distance herself, she left easily. This was her mindset—always rational, always keeping her distance. Even when Ethan had betrayed her, she'd quickly distanced herself.

But Alaric was different.

She was beginning to feel a strange dependence and trust in him. It was a good sign. Perhaps one day, those feelings would grow into love—the most beautiful yet terrifying force in the world.

Loving someone meant giving all of yourself, losing your sense of self. And when abandoned, it could drive a person to madness, turning them into something unrecognizable, like a ghost borne of despair.

She feared… she feared