Page 79 of Emylia

I wanted him tofeelwhat I felt.

I wanted to hurt him.

“No,” I snapped. “Because instead of seeing me as an equal, you see me as something broken. A wounded creature that needs protecting. You don’t trust me to be able to take care of myself.”

“Because I can’t lose you.” His voice cracked—raw and broken—it nearly undid me. It tore through me like flame.

But I didn’t falter.

Not even as it scorched.

“In trying to protect me, you expect me to be someone I’m not. Someone I could never be. So if you really want a damsel…” I let the venom bleed into my words. “…then save us both the time and heartache—go fuck Josie.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Something in him splintered.

His shoulders dropped like the fight had drained out of him. His gaze flicked away from mine, just for a breath, but it was enough. The light in his eyes had already dimmed, like I’d just taken the last piece of him he hadn’t already handed me.

And Gods, I’d meant it to sting.

But not likethat.

Slowly, with an edge of disbelief, he shook his head. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Quiet.

Controlled.

Final.

I’d expected him to fight. To yell. But there was such a terrifying power in his silence. Especially from someone whoalwaysfights. Him walking away without a word? That silence cut deeper than any sword could—it shattered me.

I wasn’t raging anymore.

I was wrecked.

I thought I wanted to hurt him. I thought if he felt even afractionof what I was feeling, it would be enough.

But it wasn’t.

And now I couldn’t breathe.

Not because I was angry. Not anymore. But because it felt like something inside me had split wide open and there was no one left to stop the bleeding.

I stood there, hollow and still, as the weight of everything settled into my chest.

I loved him.

Gods, I loved him.

But what if it wasn’t enough?

What if loving him meant risking everything?

And losing it all.

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