Episode 20

The air in the car was thick with unspoken words, a charged silence that vibrated between Eli and Bright. Claire, nestled between them, her hand resting protectively on her swollen belly, was the fragile peacekeeper. Eli stared out the window, the blur of passing scenery a mirror to his own chaotic thoughts. He’d been given an ultimatum, a stark exclusion from the wedding, the very event he’d once so carelessly disrupted. And all because of a whispered secret, a shared glance between Claire and Bright that had ignited a fresh inferno of resentment.

“You know,” Eli began, his voice a low rumble, “it’s funny. All this time, I thought I was the one who messed things up. Left her, remember? Studies, ambition, all that noble crap. And here we are, and it’s still me, isn’t it? Still the villain.” He didn’t look at Bright, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky. “You ever think about that? About what it felt like, Claire? To be left behind while I chased after my own little dreams? While you… you just waited.”

Bright shifted, the leather of the car seat creaking under his weight. “Don’t do this, Eli. Not now. Claire’s tired.”