Hailee's POV
"This has nothing to do with Nathan," I said quietly, my voice barely rising above the wind. "I just… I just want peace, Callum. I want to get my sanity back."
He froze.
I could see it in his eyes—the hurt, the disappointment, the heartbreak. And then, to my surprise, his eyes glistened. Tears. Real ones.
I stood there, stunned. I had never seen Callum like this before. So vulnerable, so human.
He gave me a small, broken nod, then turned around to leave.
But the moment he took that step away from me, panic gripped my chest.
No. Not again.
This was exactly how it happened with Nathan. I said goodbye, and he ended up in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. The guilt of those words still haunted me, and now I was doing it again—pushing someone away when they needed to be pulled close. I couldn't risk it. Not again.
"Callum, wait!" I blurted, stepping forward.
He stopped, turning slightly.
My heart pounded. "Come inside…"