章 97: 97

97

Adrian's POV

Silence had never been this loud before.

Bethany was everywhere and nowhere all at once.

I felt her in every room, in every breath of air I took. She was in the way the sunlight caught on the marble floors, in the faintest scent of lavender drifting down the halls, in the way my hands clenched into fists every time I saw her—standing so close, yet feeling miles away.

And the worst part?

I had to pretend like she didn't exist.

She tried to talk to me earlier.

I saw it in her eyes—that desperate need, that why are you doing this to me? look that almost shattered what little resolve I had left.

But I turned away.

Walked right past her like she wasn't the only thing keeping me from losing my damn mind in this hellhole.

I was doing this to protect her. I had to remind myself of that every time I saw the hurt on her face.

But it was getting harder.