Chapter 99 Ninety Eight

• I gazed down at the divorce papers clenched in my trembling hand, then shifted my eyes to the empty desk in the dimly lit room. The funeral had ended a while ago, and I had slipped away without saying a word to anyone, unable to bear the weight of their comforting words and sympathetic looks.
• The pain etched across my brother's face had cut me to the core, and I knew that I had to leave once the ceremony was over. Zevran had been surrounded by Samantha, his parents, and his siblings, offering one another solace in their shared grief. It had been three days since the funeral, and I had busied myself with mundane tasks, desperately trying to avoid engaging in any conversations.
• Zevran had attempted to reach out to me, but I always shook my head, unwilling to let him in. A part of me yearned for his comforting embrace, but I knew that letting him go would be too excruciating to bear. It was better for both of us to keep our distance now that our pretend marriage was over; there was no need for us to continue the charade.