Elena's POV

I stared at his name on the screen.

The ringing stopped.

A few seconds later,it started again.

Damian.

Again.

And again.

For twelve years, I had answered his calls.

Even when I was angry.

Even when I was hurt.

Even when I knew answering would only lead to another excuse.

My thumb hovered over the screen.

Then I turned my phone off.

The ringing stopped.

I placed it on the bedside table.

Samantha moved closer and wrapped her arms around me carefully.

For a second, I remained stiff.

Then I rested my head against her shoulder.

“You don't have to talk about anything tonight,” she whispered.

“I know.”

Lucas let out a frustrated breath.

“He pushed you.”

I looked down at my hands.

“I know.”

“If those orderlies hadn't stopped me…”

“Lucas.”

He stopped.

I looked up at him.

“Please don't.”

The anger slowly left his face.

He walked over and sat on the other side of me.

For a moment, he didn't say anything.

Then he reached over and gently squeezed my knee, the same way he used to when we were children and I was upset about something but refused to talk about it.

My throat tightened.

“I'm sorry,” he said quietly.

I frowned. “For what?”

“For not getting here sooner.”

“Lucas, this isn't your fault.”

He looked away.

“I should've been here.”

“You flew here the moment you heard what happened.”

“That doesn't change anything.”

I leaned carefully against his shoulder.

“You're here now.”

Lucas went still for a second.

Then his arm came around me.

Careful.

Gentle.

As if he was afraid even touching me might hurt.

Samantha immediately wrapped her arms around both of us.

“Oh my God,” I muttered. “Are we hugging now?”

“Yes,” Samantha said.

“No escaping,” Lucas added.

I closed my eyes.

And despite the pain in my arm and the ache in my chest, I let myself stay there between them.

For the first time that night, I didn't feel completely abandoned.

“We're getting you home tomorrow,” Lucas said quietly.

Samantha squeezed my hand.

“Together.”

I nodded.

And for once, I didn't argue.

Sleep came in fragments.

Every time I shifted, the stitches pulled. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the ring glinting between Damian’s fingers and the way he’d held Isabella against his chest. When gray light finally filtered through the curtains, I was already awake.

Lucas had the tickets printed and waiting on the desk. Samantha helped me dress,simple jeans, a soft sweater that didn’t tug at the bandage, sneakers instead of the heels I’d worn the night before. I left the diamond earrings and the silk blouse in the hotel trash. Nothing that still carried the scent of that restaurant.

In the mirror, my face looked pale, the shadows under my eyes deeper than usual. But the woman staring back wasn’t the one who had sat across from Damian last night, hoping the evening would finally feel like theirs. Something in her posture had changed.

We left the hotel before the city fully woke. Lucas drove and Samantha kept the conversation light. I answered when spoken to. Mostly I watched the skyline slide past and tried to imagine the weeks ahead without the constant low-level ache of waiting for Damian’s attention.

It felt strange.

Empty.

And underneath the emptiness, something that might have been space.

At the airport, the terminal was already filled with early travelers. Lucas handled the bags. Samantha stayed close.

Near the security line I paused.

“I need to get some snacks for the flight,” I said. “And use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

Lucas frowned. “Do you want one of us to come with you?”

“I’m fine,” I said. “I’ll only be there for a few minutes.”

Samantha looked at me carefully. “Are you sure?”

I managed a small nod. “Yes.”

After a moment, they let me go.

The small airport shop wasn’t far from our gate. I picked up a bottle of water and a few snacks, then headed toward the restroom with them still in my hand.

The corridor outside the restrooms was quieter than the main terminal. I pushed open the door, used the restroom, and washed my hands before stepping back outside.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

“Bella, don’t worry. I’m here.”

I froze.

Damian?

My grip tightened around the bottle of water.

For a second, I considered walking away immediately. I didn't want to see him. I didn't want another argument. I had already said everything I needed to say.

But then I heard Isabella's voice.

“What about Elena?”

Without thinking, I stepped back and moved behind the corner of the wall.

Damian let out a quiet sigh.

“She’s upset right now.”

My chest tightened.

“Of course she is,” Isabella said softly. “She took off without even letting you explain.”

I almost laughed at that.

Explain what?

That he had pushed me because Isabella had pretended to fall?

That he had looked at me like I was the problem?

Then Damian spoke again.

“Elena will calm down. She always does.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

I stared at the floor.

He was right.

I always had.

No matter how many times he disappointed me, no matter how many plans he cancelled or how many times I found myself standing behind Isabella, I had always calmed down.

I had always forgiven him.

Isabella was quiet for a moment.

“What if she doesn't this time?”

Damian didn't answer immediately.

Then I heard him say, “Then that's her choice.”

My fingers curled tighter around the bottle.

A few seconds passed before Isabella spoke again.

“Are you angry with her?”

“No.”

His answer came quickly.

“She just needs time.”

“And if she doesn't come back?”

There was another pause.

Then Damian's voice softened.

“Whatever happens with Elena, Bella, I'm not going anywhere. You know that.”

My heart dropped.

Isabella gave a small sniffle.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

That was it.

I didn't need to hear anything else.

I slowly stepped away from the wall.

For twelve years, I had believed Damian would always be there for me. I had thought that no matter what happened between us, I was the person he would choose when it mattered.

But standing there in that airport, listening to him make promises to Isabella while I was only a few steps away, something finally changed inside me.

Not anger,jealousy or something quieter.

But something final.

I turned and walked back toward the gate.

Samantha noticed me first.

“You took longer than five minutes,” she said, trying to sound teasing, but her expression quickly changed when she looked at my face. “Ellie? What happened?”

Lucas immediately looked up from his phone.

“Are you okay?”

I placed the snacks in my bag.

For a moment, I couldn't answer.

Then I looked at both of them,at my brother, who had flown across the country the moment he heard I had been hurt, and at my best friend, who had stayed beside me through one of the worst nights of my life.

And suddenly, I knew exactly what I wanted.

“I heard Damian's voice," I said.

Samantha's face fell.

Lucas's jaw tightened.

“With Isabella.”

Neither of them said anything.

I swallowed.

“He told her he'd always be there for her.”

Samantha reached for my hand.

Lucas looked like he wanted to go looking for Damian.

But I shook my head before he could say anything.

“Don't,” I said quietly. “Please.”

He stared at me.

“I don't want another fight.”

My voice trembled slightly, but I kept going.

“I don't want explanations. I don't want to hear him tell me I misunderstood.” I looked toward the security line. “I just want to leave.”

Samantha squeezed my hand.

“Then let's leave.”

Lucas picked up the bags and stood.

“Come on, Ellie.”

This time, when we walked toward security, I didn't look over my shoulder.

I didn't need to.

I had already spent twelve years looking back at Damian Hawthorne, hoping he would finally turn around and choose me.

I was done waiting.

I was leaving New York.

And this time, I was ready to leave Damian forever.