Chapter 185

Ciara's POV I barely slept last night. I missed Wade more than I expected. It's strange how quickly I got used to falling asleep in his arms. Just thinking about him stirred something in me, part of me already wanted to forgive him. I had to remind myself something Vera had said, how she met Wade when he was eighteen. That hit me like a lightbulb. It put things into perspective. He always came off so powerful, so commanding, that I often forgot how young he really was. Still growing. Still learning. And that made him impulsive, even reckless. In that moment, some of my anger faded. Vera had used his youth against him. She was closer to my age, she knew exactly how to manipulate him. She took her time, eased into his life so subtly that he never saw it coming. Never stood a chance. I could tell how furious he was when we dealt with Vera. His anger seemed deeper than I thought. I heard everything he said, and I know he realizes what he’s done. That matters. But I don’t want him staying w