Chapter 43

• “You don’t have to do this,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper as I stood there, staring at Rogan. His gaze was intense, locked onto mine like I was the only thing that mattered in the world. I could feel the weight of his presence, the way it pressed against me in the stillness of the room.
• “I do,” he said, his voice steady but with a raw edge that caught me off guard. "Ava, I’ve been carrying this around for far too long. It’s time you knew."
• I frowned, my heart picking up speed in my chest. His words—heavy, laden with something I couldn’t quite place—hung in the air, thick with unspoken meaning. "What are you talking about?"