TRENT’S POV“So what you're saying is you never really hit your brother, it was all your father and that..." Ella trailed off, her eyes wide as she processed the revelation.I let out a shaky breath, running a hand through my disheveled hair. "Yes, it was all my brain...subconsciously burying the truth to protect itself."We were standing outside Veronica's facility, the cool night air offering a comfort after the harrowing ordeal I had just endured. The ixepron drug seemed to have calmed in my system for now, but who knew how long that would last.Ella reached out, her fingers tracing the sharp line of my jaw. "I don't know why I'm actually feeling happy right now when I should be angry. But finally, you'll get some peace from not carrying around that false memory anymore."I caught her hand, pressing my lips to her knuckles as I searched her eyes. "I actually don't feel happy," I murmured against her skin.Ella's brow furrowed in confusion. "But Trent, this is a good thing, isn't it

TRENT'S POV I sighed deeply as I collapsed into the leather chair behind Dad's desk, utterly deflated. For hours, I've been meticulously scouring every nook and cranny of this study, desperate to uncover some clue, some hint about the dark secret he was so hellbent on keeping buried.But my search had proved fruitless, yielding absolutely zilch. Typical, really. Of course the old bastard would be extra careful in concealing anything incriminating about his past misdeeds. He was nothing if not a calculated, diabolical son of a bitch.Raking a hand through my disheveled hair, I swiveled the chair to gaze out at the imposing shelves of books and files lining the walls. So much for my harebrained idea of somehow cracking this case wide open through some miracle discovery. Fat chance of that happening now.There has to be a better way of prying those ugly truths from Dad's tightlipped grasp.My mind drifted back to that fatefulday at the hospital, mulling over his ramblings about a food

TRENTS POVI watched Ella from my spot sprawled on the living room couch, unable to suppress an adoring smile as she sat cross-legged on the floor, brow furrowed in intense concentration over her textbook. Leave it to her to turn a lazy Sunday afternoon into an impromptu study session.As if sensing my eyes on her, she glanced up, strands of her chestnut hair falling across her face. Those big, soulful eyes of hers narrowed when she caught me staring instead of studying like I was supposed to be."You know, staring at the textbook doesn't actually constitute reading it," she teased.God, she looked so adorably smug in that moment. Heat crept up the back of my neck as I quickly pretended to straighten up, cracking open the calculus book she'd all but forced into my hands earlier."Easy for you to say, Mrs. I Breezed Through Calculus With Flying Colors," I shot back, snapping the textbook closed. "Some of us mere mortals actually have to put in effort to understand this mind-numbing non

ELLA’S povI stared down at the crumpled divorce agreement papers in my hands, my heart clenching painfully. Ever since the other day when Trent freaked out after seeing these, that look of anguish on his face has been burned into my mind.What could possibly be in these legal documents that shook him to his core like that? I've pored over them a hundred times and can't find anything too abnormal - just the standard jargon about the separation of assets, custody agreements, all the typical divorce minutiae. Sure, seeing my dad's name printed there is always a harsh reminder of his absence from my life. But other than a few brief pangs of melancholy, these papers never broughtup such a dramatic reaction before. So why now? And why from Trent of all people?Ugh, I just don't get it! I flopped back against the pillows with a frustrated huff. Absentmindedly, I reached for my phone, instantly navigating to Trent's text thread like I'd done a million times over the past few days.Only th

Ella's POVMy feet could barely keep up with how fast I wanted to go. I wasn't just walking anymore - I was practically running, unable to contain my excitement at the thought of finally seeing Trent again. With each hurried step, I replayed his text over and over in my mind. "Ella, we need to talk." At last, I turned the corner onto his quiet neighborhood street, his house coming into view. And there he was, patiently waiting for me out front like he'd said. The sight of Trent's tall frame standing on the porch made my heart flutter wildly in my chest. Oh, my handsome, silly boyfriend - did he have any clue how much I'd missed laying eyes on that warm smile and tousled hair of his?Before I could stop myself, I came barreling towards him, his arms opening in anticipation of my embrace.But rather than leaping into his waiting arms like I'd imagined a million times, my emotions boiled over into something else entirely. Without warning, I started beating his chest with a breathless