Keith

about the theater' s future. He tried to make small talk, but his voice felt distant, like it belonged to someone else. I gave him short,

ance crossing his face. "Are you alr

but it was the only thing I could offer him. My stomach churned wit

uch casual indifference? The thought made me sick. I looked at him, really looked at him, and

carefully neutral. "Have you finalized the plans for its

cleared his throat. "It's a bit more complicated than we thought, financially speaking. Kassidy

lling it. I knew it. I had overheard him. The blatant disregard for my feelings, for our shared history, was

chosen his path. Now, I would choose mine. I

ssion. He knew. He could feel the shift in me, the quiet storm brewing be

arkled, the music swelled, and the air hummed with the self-important chatter of

She walked towards us, a predatory smile playing on her lips. "Graham, darling! You mad

id, my voice steady. "Woul

out your... recovery." She squeezed his arm. "It must be so difficult,

g him towards selling our theater. "Oh, he takes wonderful care of me," I said, an edge of ice

litics is a ruthless game." She turned back to Graham, ignoring me. "Darling, I just heard from S

ay of affection that made my stomach chu

in my heart ruptured, but I forced mysel

la, I was just thinking. With your... delicate condition, perhaps it's

ched us, a slight frown on his face, as if we were a minor inco

leave, Kassidy?" I asked,

rped, but her eyes were calculating. "

ssidy, that's enough." He turned to me.

potential "scene" to him. My sacrifice, the one that ende

rsh whisper. "You need to pull yourself togeth

ture, Graham? Is it selling off everything we ever dreamed of for your ambition? Is it me

tional. This is business. You made your sacrifice, and I appr

ad twisted my act of love, my life-altering decision, into a debt he resented, a burden h

al pain. I was done fighting for a man who didn't even see me. I wa

my voice eerily calm. "I won't

lief crossing his face. He thought he ha

My voice was steady, unwavering. "Enjoy your

pen, caught off guard. "Ella, don't b

f the gala faded behind me, replaced by the pounding of my own heart. I pulled

s Graham's message. "Ella, what are you d

to ruin his night. He had no idea what was coming. I deleted the message without a second thought. The air outs