ing against the stone. The wedding reception buzzed behind her-laughter, clinking glasses, music d

a moment

Ethan had b

ven years convincing herself that leaving was the right choice.

gh everything had come rushing back-like the years in between had never existed. The warmth of his hand on her waist, the way he had held

arther from the ballroom. She wasn't sure where she

through he

g away

h caught as

toned, his tie loosened. The soft glow of the terrace lights highlighted the

aid, crossing her arms in an at

his eyes fixed on her with an un

could hear the quiet anger beneath his words, the hurt tha

threatening to surface. "Look, Ethan, I didn't come he

s happened?" he interrupt

of emotions that his words had unleashed. "Yes. That's exact

s no humor in it. "That's what you're goo

sharpness in his voi

left, Ava. Without a word. No call, no note-nothing. One

nt would come-the moment she'd have to face what she had done. The guilt,

said quietly, her voic

to her, his eyes locking onto hers with a fi

gripping the cold stone railing in an attempt to steady h

his voice tinged with frustratio

ed at the words.

an she had anticipated. She hadn't been prepared for this-to feel li

hat it was like? Waking up one day and realizing the person you love is just...gone? I co

n, to make him understand-but back then, she had been young, scared, and desperate to escape the li

erstood," she whispere

his voice softeni

to say but couldn't. The years of separation, the wounds that still hadn'

eft-was something she had buried for so long. Could she finally say it o

d as if he had already given

arply, her heart

piece together what I did wrong, what we did wr

t tighten

is time. "You don't owe me an explanation. Because if you real

eyes that had once held so much love-now reflected on

cracked.

His footsteps echoed in the silence of the terrace, each

wasn't her walki