Chapter 22

Julian and Jace had tried everything they could think of to win Avery over. They leaned on power, waved money, begged, stalked, and even staged injuries to win sympathy. But every attempt shattered against the fortress Avery had built from cold silence and distance, leaving behind nothing but wreckage and a deeper despair. At last, they ran out of steam and finally faced what neither wanted to admit—they'd lost her for good. It wasn't that she was heartless. They had shattered whatever fragile feelings she might have once held, along with her dignity and the life she was meant to live. One drizzly evening, Julian parked at the corner across from Avery's apartment. He didn't get out of the car. From behind the rain-streaked glass, he kept his eyes on the window, which was glowing with warm light. He dialed the number he'd long since been blocked from, the one he had tried countless times before. As expected, all he got was the cold, busy tone. He stepped out into the rain and ma