Page 53 of Rhys: and the girl who was always his

But nothing about this is soft.

Every syllable feels like a blow to the chest. I take a step forward, fists clenched. “Where?”

Arden hesitates. It’s barely a pause, but it’s long enough. Long enough for the panic to break through my ribs like a dam.

Heknows.

He fuckingknows, and he’s not telling me.

“Arden.” My voice is sharper now, laced with heat. “Where is she?”

“She needed space.”

“Bullshit,” I snap. “You let her leave? Youhelpedher?”

“She was going no matter what,” he says, voice level. “At least this way, I knew she’d be safe.”

Safe.

The word tastes like ash in my mouth.

Because if she needed space, it means she didn’t feel safe here processing everything.

Withme.

“When?” I ask, my voice barely there.

“This morning. Right after she was discharged.”

The ground tilts under me. My stomach drops. She’s been goneall day, and no one thought to tell me.

My phone is in my hand before I can think. Fingers moving on instinct. I find her name and text her with shaking hands.

Rhys

Where are you?

I pace the living room, the silence pressing in on all sides, suffocating. My chest feels like it’s been carved open and left gaping.

Then—

A vibration in my hand.

Ally

I’m okay. I just need time.

Time.

Time, like it’s something we have an endless supply of. Like I’m not losing her by the second.

Rhys

You didn’t even say goodbye.

Her reply comes too fast.

Ally

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