"Is there anything else I should know?" Keeley asked frostily, taking a page from his book.

"I got revenge for you," Aaron said simply. "Lacy, the one who drove the car that hit you, killed Max, and she died in prison. Aiden found the footage that convicted her—though obviously he doesn't remember it. And I got my father kicked out of the company. The stress gave him a heart attack, and he died."

He discussed these deaths as casually as he would the weather! But Keeley had to admit a slight, warm feeling bloomed, knowing he'd cared enough to destroy those who hurt her. She quickly suppressed it. Nothing about this felt warm or fuzzy.

A long-forgotten thought resurfaced. "Did you bury me with my family?"

He nodded. "And I visited you every week. I never married or dated again; the rest of my life was devoted to work."

That was quite a dedication. Did he truly love her, or was it guilt? Twenty-seven years alone was a long time, especially since he was so young when she died.

"If you really loved me, why did you leave me alone for five and a half years?" she asked, masking her curiosity with grouchiness.

"That should be obvious. I needed to accumulate power to protect you after realizing I couldn't when Lacy drugged you."

"When Lacy drugged—you mean it was you?!"

Aaron had to be the one who saved her that night. No wonder her father liked him! He'd likely seen Aaron bringing her safely into the hospital.

"It was me," he confirmed. "You deserved to go to your dream school in peace, and I used that time to throw Lacy off your scent and find business contacts to help me overthrow my father."

He fidgeted, scratching his ear. "I… um… I also became much more security-conscious. Nobody knows I live here; I wanted it to be a safe place for you."

Jennica had been right. He didn't care about high society; he only wanted to be with her. It was overwhelming. Keeley's world had shifted dramatically.

Even if she believed him, it didn't change anything.

"I hope you realize you're still a manipulative creep for forcing yourself back into my life and disregarding my wishes."

He hung his head. "Yeah…"

"The only reason I became your friend was because I thought you were a different person with no memories. If I'd known it was you, I never would have allowed it," she said seriously. "I can't forgive you, regardless of your intentions."

Panic flashed in his eyes as he looked up frantically. She'd seen more emotion from him in this short time than in all their previous interactions combined.

"Keeley, please, I have nothing to live for without you. Don't leave me again."

"Why? This doesn't seem like love; it seems like a selfish, guilt-driven obsession. A normal person would have given up when I kept pushing you away in high school."

She turned to leave but stopped at his voice. "You're the only person who never gave up on me. How could I give up on you?"

Tears filled her eyes. She sensed his sincerity, but it was too late. Too much had happened. Keeley was exhausted.

"Let's leave the past in the past, okay? I have my own life now. You should find one too," she encouraged, pressing the elevator button.

"If I have to be alone, so be it. You're my only one. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

Her hands trembled as the elevator doors opened. "Goodbye, Aaron."

What had she expected to discover? She wasn't sure, but it certainly wasn't this. He'd been in love with her the entire time… how?

He was cold, callous, unfeeling, unsympathetic. He claimed it was because he didn't know how to care for people, then later that he was trying to keep her safe. Unbelievable. His attempts to keep her safe had made her miserable.

'Well,' a little voice in her head said, 'consider his upbringing. There was no love or real interaction within his family, and from a young age, he had to rely on himself. He probably did his best.'

Keeley told the voice to be quiet. His reasons didn't matter; his actions did, and they were terrible.

'He's made it up to you, hasn't he?' the voice persisted.

Taking care of her when she was sick, asking about her daily life, checking in, bringing her food, recording a show she liked—Aaron had been very good to her lately.

She couldn't accept it. He was doing this out of guilt. Whatever he felt, it wasn't love.

Returning to her apartment, Keeley ignored Jennica's questions and went straight to bed. The emotional turmoil was too much.

Maybe it was time to leave New York. She'd graduate in January and could go anywhere. She'd miss her friends and father, but making new friends was easy.

Philadelphia might be a good option. It would be easy to visit her father and friends. Jennica's future in-laws lived there, too. Several universities had genetics programs she could apply to. Leaving the city where she and Aaron had shared so much—good and bad—might make it easier to forget.

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