Chapter 181 - Chasing Away Ghosts

The Mercedes purred through the rain-slicked streets of London, its tires whispering secrets to the asphalt as the city lights smeared into golden streaks outside the tinted windows. Inside, the air was thick with the remnants of whiskey and unspoken regrets, a heady cocktail that blurred the lines between reality and longing. Henry Jackson slumped against the cool leather seat, his tall frame folding in on itself like a man defeated by his own heart. His sharp features, usually so composed, were softened by the haze of alcohol, his pretty blue eyes glassy and unfocused. He turned his head slowly, the world tilting like a carnival ride, and there she was—or at least, who he desperately wanted her to be.