Khalid had been the dream she’d chased since childhood; a star she’d reached for, relentless and unwavering. And now, against all odds, that dream had crystallized into reality. How could she possibly let it slip through her fingers, this dream she’d fought so hard to hold?

Khalid paused, his gaze fixed on Ashlyn, imbued with an unfamiliar emotion. He briefly tightened his grip on Ashlyn’s hand, his Adam’s apple bobbing with uncertainty. “Do you want our relationship to end?”

The words struck Ashlyn like a blow, leaving her breathless and mute, her thoughts scattering into fragments. She had no intention of ending things. But she feared that Khalid might still harbor feelings for Sophia; after all, their earlier interaction had been so telling. Ashlyn dared not even consider what else might have transpired.

Ashlyn tried to remain composed, forcing a gentle smile as she said, “If your heart still belongs to someone else, I’m willing to let go of you.”

“Ashlyn…” Khalid cut in, his voice low, his gaze piercing as it locked onto hers.

But Ashlyn barreled on, her voice steady. “We’re not children, Khalid. If this relationship isn’t real, let us end it with dignity.”

Letting go was the last thing she wanted. But if Khalid’s heart still wandered elsewhere, if Sophia’s ghost lingered in his thoughts, she refused to degrade herself by clinging to a love that wasn’t hers to keep. At that moment, Ashlyn changed her mind, believing that preserving her dignity was paramount.

Once the words left her lips, she couldn’t bring herself to look at Khalid. Her gaze fell, her head bowed, shielding herself from whatever truth his face might reveal.

Did his expression come off as mocking? Or was it sorrow? Ashlyn remained uncertain, unable to guess. All she felt was the ache spreading through her chest, a slow, relentless erosion devouring her from the inside.

? ?: ν

So this was the sensation of a relationship crumbling. It hurt deeply.

Ashlyn shoved Khalid aside and strode toward her room.

Khalid’s gaze followed Ashlyn, his eyes filled with a storm that threatened to engulf everything in its path. She… couldn’t accept his past. She had already reacted this way with just a surface-level understanding; if she knew the deeper truth… Khalid didn’t need to imagine the outcome. It was inevitable—a collision course he couldn’t bear to witness.

His hand clenched into a fist. He stood outside Ashlyn’s door, watching her close it, frozen in place for what felt like an eternity. The moment Ashlyn shut the door, she could no longer hold back her tears, which spilled uncontrollably like a scattering string of pearls.

At that moment, she longed to hear Khalid say just one thing—that he was done with Sophia, that his love belonged only to her.

But he had stayed silent; no words, no excuses, no lifeline to pull her back from the edge.

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