Chapter 113. An Unexpected Guest

Ezra’s POV

Life finally felt balanced again.

With Orion locked up, it had been like a heavy chain was ripped from my chest. His presence had been like a shadow between Layla and me for far too long, twisting everything even when he wasn’t in the room.

The most difficult aspect had been watching her act as though she still cared for him. I knew she was only doing that to get close enough to gather the evidence she needed to put him behind bars, but it had bothered me. Seeing her smile at him, even if it was fake, lit a jealous fire inside me.

But all that was in the past now.

Layla was free from him. I was free of the thought that used to torment me. And I saw her look at me without hesitation for the first time. She laughed like she used to. She put her trust in me like she used to. She leaned on me not because she had to, but because she wanted to.

And that was enough.

And it was enough for me to take the next step.

I didn’t wa