"Why are you helping me?"

I asked as Ivan handed me a plane ticket at the airport.


"You may not believe me, but Mathew set me up," Ivan said bitterly. "That night on my trip, I got drunk and vented about us to someone. From the beginning, I pursued you. I won you over, but always felt you didn't love me enough..."

"That day, I sent you drunk texts, then passed out. I woke up in a hotel room with... someone else. I was horrified. I checked my phone for your replies but saw nothing. I felt pathetic, so I just... gave in..."

He took a deep breath. "I only recently learned you'd lost your phone that day. Someone deleted all my messages."


I was stunned—I had lost my phone around that time.

"You're saying Mathew orchestrated all this..."


"Yes. He's completely obsessed with you—"

Ivan reached for my hand, anger flashing in his eyes.

I pulled away.

Ivan's voice turned hoarse. "You still can't forgive me?"

I shook my head.

Mathew's fevered eyes haunted my thoughts. I wondered what he was doing now...

"Let's leave it, Ivan. It's in the past."

Ivan started to speak, then fell silent as his eyes fixed on my neck.

"You and him..."

I realized Mathew's marks were visible.

I tugged at my collar. "Thank you for everything. I should go."

Ivan suddenly pulled me into a hug. "Goodbye, Crystal," he whispered, voice breaking.

Just then, my phone rang—Mathew.

I stared at his name on the screen, frozen.

Ivan reached over and declined the call.

"Let's go."

"Mm."

The phone kept ringing, like a vise around my heart.

I never answered.

Finally, it stopped.

The boarding announcement echoed through the terminal.

My phone vibrated twice.

My hand spasmed. I couldn't breathe.

With trembling fingers, I checked Mathew's message—

"Are you abandoning me, Crystal?"

"Then I'll just die. That way you'll be free of me forever."

A photo loaded: a blood-soaked wrist.

*CRASH!*

My phone clattered to the floor. Cold sweat broke out across my skin.

I snatched up the phone and ran, colliding with travelers. I mumbled apologies, my mind reeling.

"Crystal, what's wrong?!"

Someone grabbed my arm. I focused to see Ivan.

"Take me back," I clutched his arm. "Please, I need to go back. Mat, he..."

"He's insane and you're following suit!" Ivan snapped.

"No," I shook my head frantically. "Please, I need to see him..."

The drive back was a blur. Memories flashed before me, settling on that rainy night—

Mathew appearing at our doorstep.

Standing in the downpour, soaked to the bone.

His gaze dark and heavy.

I asked how he'd found me.

He said I'd approached him first.

I understood now.

The moment I first reached for his hand, our lives became hopelessly entangled.

Inseparable.