Listing to her angry words, Brian tightened his jaw and stated, "I want to be alone. Please leave." without further conversation, turning his back on her to show her that that was it for him and for their future.

Seeing this lonely, defeated sight, Emerald felt a stinging pang of wrenching pain. However, in the end, her political thoughts overrode her, and she was left with no choice but to let a deep sigh escape her and walk out. She lingered for a moment at the door. But then, from inside, she heard the distinctive sound of muffled, broken sobbing. Brian was crying, racking his body with wrenching sounds that...