His eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and something else, a complexity that Nadine struggled to decipher. "Nadine," he said softly, his voice tinged with sadness. "I... I don't love you."

The words struck Nadine like a dagger to the heart. She had anticipated his reciprocation, expecting him to confess his love for her. Instead, she was met with rejection—a painful truth that shattered the fragile hope within her. Her emotions surged, conflicted by his return after leaving her once before, leading her to believe she held significance to him.

“But why? I thought you loved me too!” Nadine's voice trembled with hurt and confusion.

Zander reached out tentatively,...