The faint hum of the city lights filtered through Courtney's apartment like a distant whisper, a mocking backdrop to the chaos churning inside her. Her hands still trembled from the phone call earlier, the memory of Dwayne's lingering gaze and quiet departure gnawing at her like an open wound. She had hoped the morning's silence would grant her space to think, to breathe, but the sharp ring of her doorbell shattered that illusion, sending a jolt of dread straight to her core.
"Sean," she murmured, her voice barely audible, as if saying his name aloud might summon him faster. Her stomach knotted with unease. She hadn't wanted this confrontation—not now, not with the echoes of Dwayne's touch still fresh on her skin. Ignoring Sean was never an option; he always found a way to weave himself back into her life, like a shadow that lengthened with the setting sun.
