There was silence.

And then.

Sky took a breath.

Soft. Shaky.

But her voice?

Clear.

Strong.

Final.

“Robert…”

He looked up fast, hope flaring in his broken eyes.

“…I’m sorry.”

The words sliced through the air like a knife.

His face fell.

Sky stepped back.

“I don’t want to be with a man who offers to change when it’s already too late,” she said. “I don’t want soft apologies or empty promises.”

She turned her head.

Her eyes landed on him.

Xavier.

Seated like a fucking king.

Watching her like a king watches his territory.

And she let herself fall into it.

The ache.

The truth.

“I want to be...