Anabelle stood frozen by her apartment door, her heart racing fast. Carson’s words still rang in her ears, heavy with emotion and regret.
His eyes were tired, his face pale, and there was a sadness in his voice she had not heard before.
He looked like a man carrying a storm inside him, one he could no longer hide.
“I’m sorry, Anabelle,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have left you. I thought I was doing what my family wanted, but I destroyed everything good in my life,” he said.
Anabelle’s fingers tightened around the doorknob.
“You shouldn’t be here, Carson,” she said softly. “You can’t just show up like this.”
“I had to,” he said quickly, stepping forward. “I couldn’t breathe anymore pretending to be happy. I keep thinking about you—every single day. You’re the only thing that feel
