15

JEROME POV

I watch Julia standing before me, her eyes searching mine, waiting for answers I don’t have. And as much as I don’t owe her love, I owe her everything else, protection, stability, maybe even a future.

At least that’s the plan. I swore I wouldn’t let her be unhappy. She’s an orphan who’s clawed her way through life, and I relate to her in ways I can’t even explain.

All I wanted was to help her on her own terms and watch her finally live ...