Chapter 35: The Confrontation
Justin finds her alone on a balcony.
Of course he does.
Some things don't change.
"You shouldn't be out here," she says without turning. "It's not appropriate."
His jaw tightens.
"Since when did you care about appropriate?"
She frowns slightly, glancing at him. "Have we met somewhere before?"
The question nearly destroys him.
"Yes," he says hoarsely. "We have."
Her chest tightens again.
That ache—
Stronger now.
"Where?"
He steps closer.
Too close.
"You were mine," he says quietly.
The words hit her like a physical force.
Her breath catches.
"That's not possible," she whispers.
"I felt you die," he continues, voice cracking. "Or at least… I thought you did."
Something inside her shifts.
A crack.
A fracture in the emptiness.
Images flash—
Too fast.
Too broken to make sense.
Pain.
Warmth.
A voice.
His voice.
She staggers back. "Stop."
"You rejected me," he says, not accusing—just stating a truth that still bleeds. "Do you remember that?"
Her heart starts racing.
"I don't—"
"You said the words," he presses, anguish bleeding through. "You tore the bond apart."
Her hands tremble.
"Why does that hurt?" she whispers.
Because it does.
It hurts like something is trying to claw its way back to the surface.