Never Just Friends

Finn’s Discovery

Hanna had barely made it through the front door when she heard the knock. Her heart skipped as she turned, expecting to see her mother or maybe Emily, but instead, Finn stood in the doorway, his expression stormy and unreadable.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were still meeting with Elordi?” Finn’s voice was low, but the anger beneath it was undeniable.

Hanna’s stomach twisted. She hadn’t expected him to find out, at least not this way. “Who told you?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Finn’s eyes flashed with frustration. “Does it matter?” he shot back. “I thought we were in this together, Hanna. I thought you trusted me.”

Hanna took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. “We are, Finn. I do trust you, but you don’t understand. Elordi is the only one who can help me take Ciara down. He has information that could end this, and I don’t know who else to turn to.”

Finn’s eyes darkened, and he crossed his arms. “I’m not asking you to handle this alone. But instead of being honest with me, you’ve been meeting with him in secret? Behind my back?”

Hanna winced at the accusation. “I didn’t want to drag you into this. I didn’t want to put you at risk.”

Finn stepped closer, the space between them thick with tension. “You think I’m not already at risk, Hanna? You think keeping secrets is going to protect me or us?”

She shook her head, tears threatening to spill. “I’m trying to protect you, Finn. I’m trying to protect everything we have.”

His expression softened for just a moment, but the hurt in his eyes didn’t fade. “The truth, Hanna. That’s all I ever wanted. But now, it feels like you’re keeping me in the dark. And I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”

Hanna’s breath hitched. “Finn, no. Please… don’t say that.”

But Finn turned away, his back facing her as he muttered, “I need space, Hanna. I can’t keep doing this.”

The door slammed behind him with a deafening finality, and Hanna collapsed onto the couch, her head spinning. The weight of his words was too much to bear, but she couldn’t help but wonder—had she lost him? Had she lost everything?

As the silence settled around her, Hanna realized that her battle with Ciara was no longer the only fight she had to face. It was now about saving the trust she had with Finn. And with him walking away, she couldn’t help but fear that she was losing everything she had worked so hard to protect.

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