When I heard his voice, my whole body stiffened.
Damien.
I didn't move. Didn't speak. Just stared at the white bedsheet like it could somehow protect me from the storm brewing in the doorway.
Rylan stood up, his figure blocking Damien as if it was instinct.
"You shouldn't be here," Rylan said, voice calm but cold.
"I need to talk to her," Damien replied, his voice cracking. "Please."
I slowly turned my head. Our eyes met.
And in that instant, all the words he'd thrown at me earlier echoed again.
"You're just like the others."
My heart clenched. My breath caught.
Damien took a step inside, but Rylan didn't move. "She just fainted because of you. You've done enough damage, don't you think?"
"I didn't mean it," Damien said, eyes on me. "I was angry. I let my insecurities win, I—Ava, I'm sorry."
I looked at him, pain carved deep in my eyes.
"I'm not like the others," I whispered. "I was never like them. But you didn't even give me the chance to prove that."
Damien looked like he'd been punched in the gut.
"I know," he said, voice barely audible. "I know. And I hate myself for it."
Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
"You can't just tear someone down and expect them to heal because you said sorry," I said. "You don't get to break me and then rush back when you see me broken."
Rylan gently touched my shoulder. "She needs rest, Damien. Not more chaos."
Damien looked at me like he wanted to stay forever.
But he also knew… he had no right to.
"I'll wait," he said, stepping back. "Even if you hate me now… I'll wait."
And then he left, the door clicking shut behind him.
The room felt quiet again, but nothing about me was calm.
I was shattered—but not forgotten.
And somewhere in that silence, Rylan sat back beside me, his presence a quiet shield.
"You don't need to choose right now," he said softly. "Just feel everything. I'll be here."
I nodded, resting my head against the pillow.
Tired. Heartbroken. But still mine.
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