The chateau didn’t feel the same anymore. Not after what you saw. Not after him and her.

Your heart was thudding so loud you could barely hear the wind. It was supposed to be your safe place—he was supposed to be. But now everything felt wrong. Cold.

You stood there, arms wrapped tight around yourself, trying to hold it all in. The screaming in your head, the ache in your chest, the disbelief.

JJ finally stepped outside, that same cocky smirk nowhere in sight. His eyes landed on you, then dropped to the ground like he couldn’t face it. Couldn’t face you.

Your throat burned. His silence was louder than any excuse.

You thought about the late-night swims, the hoodie that still smelled like him, the way he kissed your shoulder when he thought you were asleep. You thought about how long you loved him.

And how fast he broke it.

Behind him, Pope and Sarah stood in the doorway, quiet. Tension clung to the air like smoke. Kiara was nowhere to be seen. Fitting.

JJ took a step forward—hesitant, like he knew you were slipping away and couldn’t decide if he should chase you or let you go.

You blinked hard, jaw tight, lips trembling—but you didn’t say a word. You didn’t need to.

Everything he needed to know was already in your eyes. Everything you needed to know… was in his silence.