Chapter 214

Chapter 214:

“I need to go to The Pierre,” she told Weston, her voice firm. “Anson wants to meet p>

“Ma’am, that’s not advisable,” Weston countered immediately. “Mr. Koch’s orders p>

“I’m not asking for permission,” Eliza cut him off, her gaze steady. “I’m telling you my plan. I need to do this for myself — to sever the final thread. He’ll be on the rooftop terrace, a public space. You and your team will secure the entire floor below, the service elevators, and the stairwells. Have a man in plain clothes at the bar. If I’m not down in exactly fifteen minutes, or if I use the safe word — ‘roses’ — you come up. Understood p>

Weston studied her for a long moment, reading the resolve in her eyes. He gave a single, sharp nod. “Understood, Mrs. Koch p>

The terrace at The Pierre Hotel was exactly as Eliza remembered it. The view of Central Park was breathtaking, the city spread out like a grid of gold and gray. It was here, ten years ago, that Anson had found her crying after the funeral and promised to take care of her.

He was standing at the railing, a glass of scotch in his hand. He didn’t turn when she approached.

𝗣𝗈р𝘂𝘭𝖺𝘳 𝘴𝗍𝘰rieѕ 𝗈𝗇

“You sold the company,” he said. His voice was flat, carried away on the wind.

“I liquidated it,” Eliza corrected, stopping a few feet away. “I freed the employees. I paid the debts. It’s different p>

Anson turned. His eyes were red-rimmed. “I could have saved it. We could have run it together. Like we planned p>

“We never planned that, Anson,” Eliza said. “You planned that. I was just a prop in your play p>

“I loved you, Eliza.” His voice cracked. “Since we were ten. Since before the fire. Before everything p>

“Did you?” The question had been gnawing at her for days. “Or did you love that I needed you p>

Anson flinched as though she had struck him. “What’s the difference p>

“Everything,” Eliza said. “Love is two wholes. We were a crutch and a cripple. You needed me to be broken so you could feel strong p>

He took a step toward her.

“I was dependent on you, Anson. I mistook safety for love. That’s on me — I own that mistake.” She took a step back. “But now I’m standing on my own. And I don’t need the crutch p>

“You have Koch,” Anson said bitterly, gesturing out toward the city. “He’s just a new crutch. A richer, more violent one p>

“No,” Eliza said. “He’s my partner. He let me walk into the fire to save myself. You would have locked me in a tower to keep the smoke away p>

Anson hurled his glass against the stone railing. Crystal shards rained down onto the patio below. “I won’t accept this p>

“You don’t have to accept it,” Eliza said, turning to leave. “You just have to respect it p>

He seized her wrist. His grip was desperate, bruising. “Don’t walk away from me! After everything I did p>

“Let go,” Eliza said. Her voice was ice.