The room was too silent.
Jay sat on the floor, back against the bed, her knees pulled close to her chest. Her hands were still shaking, her breathing uneven—like if she stopped focusing, she'd fall apart all over again.
She didn't even remember how long she had been crying.
Minutes.
Hours.
It all felt the same.
The only thing that stayed was the ache.
A soft click.
The door opened.
She didn't look up.
She didn't need to.
"…Jay."
Ren's voice.
Gentle.
Careful.
Like he was stepping into something fragile.
She let out a shaky breath, quickly wiping her face. "You shouldn't be here."
"I think I should."
His footsteps were slow as he walked in, stopping just a few steps away from her.
Not too close.
Not like before.
And somehow… that hurt more.
"I heard what happened," he said quietly.
Jay let out a humorless laugh. "Of course you did. It's probably entertaining, right? The perfect fiancée breaking down over her past—"
"Jay."
His voice cut through hers.
Not harsh.
But firm.
And it made her stop.
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Ren exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair before finally speaking again.
"…Do you love him?"
The question landed softly.
But it shattered everything.
Jay froze.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Because this time…
There was no escaping it.
Ren gave a small nod, like he already understood. "You don't have to answer."
Her chest tightened. "Ren, I—"
"I think I've always known."
That made her look up.
Really look at him.
And for the first time tonight—
He looked tired.
Not angry.
Not jealous.
Just… tired.
"I just thought," he continued, his voice quieter now, "that if I stayed long enough… if I was good enough… you'd eventually look at me the way you look at him."
Jay's eyes filled again. "That's not fair—"
"It isn't," he agreed softly. "But love rarely is."
Silence.
The kind that says everything words can't.
Ren stepped closer this time—but instead of pulling her into him, he knelt down in front of her.
At her level.
Equal.
"I don't regret loving you," he said.
And that—
That broke her all over again.
"Please don't do this…" her voice cracked.
"I have to."
He reached for her hand, holding it gently—like he was memorizing it.
"Because if I stay," he continued, "I'll start resenting you."
Her breath hitched.
"And I don't want to be the person who looks at you and feels second place."
Tears slipped down her cheeks again.
"Ren…"
He smiled.
Soft.
Sad.
Real.
"You deserve someone you don't have to question," he said. "And I deserve someone who chooses me without hesitation."
His thumb brushed her knuckles one last time before letting go.
And just like that—
The warmth was gone.
Jay felt it immediately.
The emptiness.
"Is this really goodbye?" she whispered.
Ren stood up slowly.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Then—
"…Yeah."
One word.
But it carried everything.
He took a step back.
Then another.
Putting distance where there used to be closeness.
"I hope," he said quietly, "that one day, you don't cry over someone who made you feel this broken."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"And I hope," he added, pausing at the door, "that he's worth all of this."
Jay couldn't speak.
Couldn't move.
Couldn't stop him.
The door opened.
And just before he walked out—
He looked at her one last time.
Not with anger.
Not with regret.
But with love.
The kind he was finally choosing to let go of.
Then—
The door closed.
Jay sat there.
Alone.
Again.
But this time…
It wasn't because someone left without a word.
It was because someone loved her enough to say goodbye.
And somehow—
That hurt even more.
End of Chapter 😭