I knocked on the door, heart pounding so loud it felt like it echoed in the hallway."Ava," I said, my voice barely holding together. "Please... just come out. Five minutes. That's all I'm asking."
Silence.
I knocked again, harder this time, the desperation bleeding out of me."Ava, please. Let me explain."
Nothing.No sound except the screaming inside my own head.
Finally, the door cracked open — but it wasn't her.
It was Jia, standing there with that fierce look in her eyes, like she was two seconds from punching me.
"She doesn't want to see you," she snapped. "Just leave her alone."
No. No, not happening.
I shoved past her without thinking.
She stumbled back, cursing at me, but I didn't even turn around."Sorry, Jia," I muttered. "Not leaving without her."
My feet moved on their own. Straight to Ava's room.Heart crashing against my ribs.Hands shaking.
I pushed open the door —and it hit me like a freight train.
There she was.
Curled up under her blanket,shoulders shaking,crying so hard it physically hurt to watch.
"Ava," I breathed out.
She looked up, and God —her face, those broken, red-rimmed eyes —it felt like someone reached into my chest and ripped my heart out.
"You—" she choked out, voice cracked and wrecked. "You bastard."
"Ava, listen to me—"
"GET OUT!" she screamed, throwing a pillow straight at me.
I let it hit me. Didn't flinch.I deserved every bit of her anger.
"YOU LIED TO ME!" she sobbed, sitting up, her whole body trembling."You said you loved me! You said it was real!"
"It was real!" I yelled back, voice breaking. "It still is!"
"THEN WHY HER?!" she screamed, slamming her fists against my chest over and over. "WHY?!"
I just stood there, taking it, letting her hit me.Because the truth was simple: I destroyed the only thing that ever mattered to me.
When her fists weakened, when her breathing hitched in painful, broken sobs, I moved.
I pulled her into my arms.
She struggled — for a second.But then she just crumbled against me, burying her face into my chest, crying so hard it shredded my soul.
"I'm sorry," I whispered into her hair, squeezing my eyes shut. "I'm so fucking sorry."
I held her like if I let go, the whole world would fall apart again.
"I didn't love her," I said, my voice raw, desperate."Veronica... she was just my ex-fiancée. It was for appearances. Our families forced it. I never loved her. I never even wanted her."
Ava sobbed harder, her hands grabbing at my shirt, clinging like she didn't know whether to hate me or hold on.
"I only ever loved you," I whispered. "Only you. I swear to God."
I could barely breathe around the tightness in my chest."I'm not leaving you again," I said, fierce and certain. "Even if you scream at me. Even if you tell me to get out. I'm staying. I'm staying until you believe me. Forever."
I kissed the top of her head, my own tears falling, getting lost in her hair."I'm yours, Ava," I said, voice trembling. "Only yours. Always."
She didn't answer.She just sobbed into me, her body shaking with every breath —but she didn't let go.
And neither did I.