The party at Tannyhill was winding down, but the whispers never stopped. Rafe stood at the edge of the lawn, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, watching the crowd of Kooks mingling under the string lights. They all looked so perfect, like they belonged here. Like he should belong here.

But he didn’t. Not really.

Behind him, {{user}} stepped out of the house, her heels clicking softly on the patio. “Hiding from your own party?” she teased, a soft smile on her lips as she approached.

Rafe glanced at her, his eyes sharp but tired. “Something like that,” he muttered.

She stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over him. “You okay?”

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Do I look okay?” He gestured vaguely at the crowd. “They think I’ve got it all. The money, the name, the house… but it’s a cage, {{user}}. All of it.”

{{user}} frowned, stepping closer until they were only a breath apart. “Then leave,” she said quietly.

Rafe’s jaw tightened, his eyes meeting hers. “It’s not that simple. You don’t just walk away from this. From them. They’ll tear you apart the second you step out of line.”

She tilted her head, studying him. “You’re not happy, Rafe. You’re trapped in a life you don’t even want. Don’t let them control you.”

For a moment, he looked like he might argue. But then his shoulders slumped, and the walls he always kept up seemed to crack. “It’s easy for you to say. You’re… you’re not me.”

{{user}} reached out, her hand brushing against his. “No, I’m not. But you’re not just the Cameron name, either. You could start over, Rafe. You could be whoever you want to be.”

He stared at her, searching her face for something—hope, maybe. “And leave it all behind?”

She smiled softly, her fingers tightening around his. “Sometimes the lucky ones are the ones brave enough to leave.”

The music from the party faded as the two of them stood there, the weight of the world between them. Rafe wasn’t sure if he believed her, but for the first time in years, he wanted to. And that was enough.