Billionaire second choice

was that it felt like standing in a

ed. And then one day, you realized you were gasping and he was sti

e looked smaller than he remembered. Or maybe q

g again," she said wi

e replied

y. "You're waiting fo

tended but she didn't take them back

nversation for months. Tonight,

hausted,

"From work?

hook her hea

m. She laughed then a short, b

ou when you don't come to family dinners. When you leave in the middle of conversations because your phone buzz

" he said, too quick

sed something obvious. "I don't

ightened. "This

use what feels unfair to me is loving a m

step back, crossing his

od. Or your parents. Or why your family's name makes people whisper.

private

e corrected. "And they

her leaning on me for everything. My siblings fighting over money we don't have

ut you're another plac

our lives like meetings. You decide when we travel, who we see, wha

's not

When was the last time you asked what I wanted? Not wh

uldn't

ed sadly.

essed in again,

s the worst part. I love you so much that I've

at her side. "And

iar rise in his chest panic, m

ok him in like she was memorizing a face

ing I nee

stiffened. "You

don't want to lose you. I just if we kee

rd hate

" she said

irst time that night. "And what am

f you're capable of loving so

more than h

ou?" he

who I am without fi

, already packed. That d

tonight," he said

Ye

if she was serious this time but somethin

the only movement he t

nly had no air at all. He wanted to chase after

aphi

oors closed wit

when it be

pressed together like they were holding back something unfinished. She waited,

sn't c

ng tearing through the sky in bright, violent streaks. Rain hit her like punishment, s

finally collapsing in on her. The sob that escaped her was quiet, tired

oked ba

ouse above

ement.

nd she slid inside, curling inward like she was trying to disappear. As the car pulled aw

one to buzz. An apolog

hing

se enough to make her flinc

d to matter,"

n. And with every passing block, she und

chase her now,

had finally co

ian

d where she

e sound of her footsteps fading down the hall. He told

me back, h

ways co

settled easil

nd risks. Emotional exhaustion. Family pressure. His silence. His secrets.

himself m

oned. Apologies were more effective when t

he justified

that this was the m

ould one day cost him more