Chapter XXXI : Leaving and Staying

Rebecca’s POV

“I should go,” Rhys murmured, his gaze softening as though he read every battle written across my face. “Before anyone notices.”

I wanted to stop him. But I only nodded, sharp and small, because I could not afford to fall apart again.

“But… tell Maddie, will you? You know she’d never forgive me if I left without a word. Just… tell her I said goodbye.”

“I’ll make sure she knows,” I whispered, though my throat burned with the weight of it.

Rhys gave a faint, rueful smile. He hesitated, as though weighing words too heavy to speak. But in the end, he said nothing. He only turned away.

I stayed there in the corridor, clutching the rose like it might shatter if I loosened my grip. The corridor tilted faintly beneath my feet. I blinked hard, trying to steady the blur edging my vision.

Saints, maybe I’d had more wine than I thought.

The warmth still burned in my throat, sweet and sour all at once, dulling everything and making it worse at the same time.

Then—footsteps.