6.

~SCARLETT.

Day broke, but sleep never came. I stayed curled on the floor, clutching my locket as the first light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window. The pounding on the bathroom door had stopped hours ago, replaced by a silence that was somehow louder. I stared at the lock, my thoughts spiraling into places I didn't want to go.

Finally, I took a shaky breath and forced myself to move. My legs wobbled beneath me as I stood. Unlocking the door, I eased it open.

Jake was slumped on the floor, asleep. His face looked disturbingly peaceful, like nothing had happened. But the dried blood on his lip told a different story. For reasons I couldn't understand, my heart broke at the sight.

Kneeling beside him, I felt tears burn my eyes. He looked so broken. So far from the man I had fallen in love with.

And yet, I couldn't help but feel responsible. I'd pushed him to this; accused him, doubted him, and betrayed him. If I hadn't slept with Liam, if I'd trusted him more...this wouldn't have happened. The guilt turned inside me like a knife.

I swallowed the sobs threatening to escape. Crying wouldn't fix anything. I needed to do something.

In the bathroom, I found a first aid kit. With trembling hands, I began cleaning his wounds. The swab moved over his bloodied lips, and I flinched with each touch as though I could feel his pain myself.

Just as I nearly finished, he stirred, making me freeze in place.

His steel-blue eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, I saw confusion flash across his face.

"Scar?"

"I-I was just cleaning you up," I pulled back quickly as my heart hammered in my chest.

Sitting up slowly, he winced as he pressed a hand to his temple. When his fingers brushed over his bloodied lip, realization dawned in his eyes. "Scar," he whispered. "I… I'm so sorry. I don't even remember—"

"S-Stop," I interrupted him. "Don't apologize."

His eyes met mine, full of anguish. "I scared you."

I nodded, unable to lie. "Yes. You did."

He reached for me, but I flinched, pulling back on instinct. The pain in his expression was almost too much to bear, but fear still gripped me tightly.

Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, "I don't know what we’ve become anymore. This… this isn't us."

His shoulders sagged. "I don't know what I’ve become either."

The silence between us stretched endlessly. I could see the guilt etched into every line of his face, and I knew it mirrored my own.

Finally, he spoke. "I'll fix this, Scar. I'll fix me. I'll do whatever it takes."

I wanted to believe him, desperately, but the fear from last night was still fresh. "You need help, Jake. Real help."

He nodded, his jaw tightening. "I'll do it. I promise."

I didn't respond. I stood instead, and put the first aid kit away, needing the brief distance to gather myself.

A sharp knock on the door startled us both, the sudden sound breaking the tense silence.

Jake stood, smoothing his disheveled clothes, and motioned for me to follow. I hesitated but trailed behind him as he opened the door.

A cheerful young woman in the resort uniform smiled brightly as she wheeled in a tray of food. Her smile faltered slightly as her gaze flicked between us, but she quickly recovered.

"Good morning, sir, ma'am. Here's your complimentary breakfast. Also, we'd love for you to join our Couples' Game Day in three hours. It's a great way to bond and have fun."

I opened my mouth to decline, but Jake beat me to it. "We'll be there."

I paused, startled. The woman nodded politely before leaving, the door clicking shut behind her.

I turned to him, confused. "What was that? Why did you say yes?"

He moved closer, gently cupping my face in his hands. "Because you planned this trip to save us, and I'm not letting it go to waste. No more running, Scar. No more hiding. We're fixing this."

I searched his eyes, looking for doubt, but there was none. His determination sparked a small flicker of hope within me.

"Do you really think we can?" I asked.

"I know we can," he said.

Before I could utter another word, he kissed me—a deep kiss that left me weak in the knees. I felt the weight lift, and I allowed myself to believe him.

*****

Three hours later, after a long shower and a quiet breakfast, Jake and I stood in the resort's activity hall.

The room was filled with couples laughing and holding hands. Soft music played in the background, and the tables were decorated with flowers. Everywhere I looked, people seemed happy, and comfortable in their love.

I shifted uneasily, watching them. I envied their ease, their confidence in each other. Would Jake and I ever feel that way again?

Jake's hand brushed mine, pulling me from my thoughts. He laced his fingers with mine and squeezed gently.

"You okay?" he asked.

I swallowed, looking up at him, trying to hide the doubt that clouded my expression. "Are you sure about this?"

He met my gaze. "Yes. I'm sure."

I let out a small breath and squeezed his hand in return.

We found a seat, and the woman from earlier this morning took the center of the room.

"Welcome to our Couples' Game Day!" she said brightly. "First up: The Newlywed Game; Couples Edition!"

The rules were simple: Each couple would answer questions about their partner, while the other would try to guess the answers. The couple with the most points would win.

At first, I was nervous. But as the game began, something shifted. Jake and I answered each question correctly. Every time we got it right, we laughed, high-fived, and even leaned into each other. The room filled with cheers and playful teasing, and gradually, I started to feel...light.

When the host announced we were in the lead, I felt a spark of joy. Maybe we were winning more than just the game.

Finally, it was the last question. Jake and I looked at each other, and I knew we were going to nail it.

And we did. We answered it perfectly. The host grinned. "Scarlett and Jake are our winners!"

Applause erupted, and I turned to Jake, laughing. "We did it!"

But before we could celebrate, a voice spoke through the noise.

"You missed a couple."

The room fell silent, and I froze, my heart pounding in my chest because I knew that voice.

Slowly, I turned.

Liam sat at a table near the back, his hazel eyes calm but piercing. And beside him—my blood went cold—was the woman.

The one who'd haunted me for days. The one I thought Jake had cheated with.

I couldn't breathe.