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CHAPTER — DON'T SAY HIS NAME
Jayjay's POV
I went back to normal.
Or at least—
I tried to.
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Quiet.
Distant.
Cold.
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Like nothing ever happened.
Like he didn't bring me food.
Like I didn't stand there… crying over a memory I couldn't let go of.
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Like that night never existed.
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I sat in the living room, flipping through a book.
Not really reading.
Just… passing time.
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I felt it.
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His gaze.
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Keifer Watson
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He'd been like that all morning.
Watching.
Not saying much.
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Different.
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And I hated that I noticed.
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"Eat."
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I didn't look up.
"I already did."
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A pause.
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"Not enough."
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I sighed softly, turning a page.
"I'm fine."
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Silence again.
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Then—
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"Who is Liam?"
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Everything stopped.
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My fingers froze on the page.
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My breath caught.
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Slowly—
I looked up.
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"What?"
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My voice came out quieter than I expected.
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But my heart—
Was racing.
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His eyes didn't leave mine.
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"Liam," he repeated.
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My chest tightened instantly.
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"How do you know that name?" I asked.
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A pause.
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Then—
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"You were crying."
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The words hit harder than they should have.
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"You said his name."
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Something inside me—
Snapped.
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I stood up abruptly.
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"Don't."
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My voice was sharp now.
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"Don't say his name."
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His expression shifted slightly.
But he didn't back down.
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"Who is he?"
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That was it.
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"Stop," I said, louder this time.
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My hands clenched at my sides.
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"You don't get to ask me that."
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Silence.
Heavy.
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"You were crying over him," he said again.
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"And you think that gives you the right to ask?" I shot back.
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My eyes burned.
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"You don't get to know anything about me."
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The words came out cold.
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Sharp.
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Like I meant every single one.
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"Jay—"
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"No."
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I cut him off instantly.
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"Don't."
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My voice dropped.
But it was worse now.
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Quieter.
Colder.
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"You don't get to say his name."
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A pause.
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Then—
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"You don't get to talk about something you know nothing about."
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My chest rose and fell quickly.
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"And you definitely don't get to act like you care."
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That one—
Landed.
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Hard.
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Because for a second—
Something in his expression changed.
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But I didn't stop.
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"You made it very clear what I am to you."
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My voice trembled slightly.
But I didn't let it break.
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"So don't stand here and pretend this matters now."
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Silence.
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I looked at him one last time.
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And this time—
There was nothing soft in my eyes.
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Nothing at all.
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Then I turned.
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And walked away.
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Without looking back.
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Keifer's POV
I shouldn't have said it.
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The moment the words left my mouth—
I knew.
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"Who is Liam?"
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Her reaction said everything.
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The way she froze.
The way her eyes changed.
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I hit something.
Something I wasn't supposed to.
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"How do you know that name?"
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I told her.
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"You were crying."
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And that's when everything—
Shifted.
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"Don't."
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Her voice.
Sharp.
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"Don't say his name."
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I didn't stop.
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I should have.
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But I didn't.
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"Who is he?"
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And that—
Was the breaking point.
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"Stop."
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Her voice raised.
Her eyes—
Burning now.
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"You don't get to ask me that."
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My jaw tightened.
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"You were crying over him—"
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"And you think that gives you the right?" she snapped.
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Silence.
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"You don't get to know anything about me."
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That one—
Stayed.
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Because it was true.
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I don't.
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And I hate that.
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"You don't get to say his name."
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Her voice dropped.
Colder.
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Worse.
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"You don't get to talk about something you know nothing about."
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Every word—
A line.
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A boundary.
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"And you definitely don't get to act like you care."
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That hit harder than I expected.
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Because I do.
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More than I should.
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More than I planned.
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"You made it very clear what I am to you."
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I didn't respond.
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Because she wasn't wrong.
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And that—
Was the problem.
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"So don't stand here and pretend this matters now."
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Silence fell.
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Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
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She looked at me one last time.
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And there was nothing there.
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No softness.
No hesitation.
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Nothing.
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Then she walked away.
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And I didn't stop her.
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I just stood there.
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Thinking about one thing.
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Liam.
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And the way she looked when I said his name.
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Like he still matters.
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Like he still has a place—
I can't reach.
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My jaw clenched.
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Because I crossed a line.
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And now—
She's further away than before.
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But at the same time—
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I'm not letting this go.
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Not him
Not anymore
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Jayjay's POV
The house felt quieter.
Not peaceful.
Just heavy.
I stayed in my room mot of the day.
Didn't go out.
Didn't talk.
Didn't want to.
My words from earlier kept replaying in my head.
"You don't get to act like you care."
I shut my eyes tightly.
Why did I say that…?
Because it's true.
Isn't it?
My fingers curled into the bedsheet.
He made it clear before.
Who I was to him.
What this marriage was.
So why does it feel like something changed?
I turned to my side, staring at the wall.
No.
Don't think about it.
This is better.
Distance is better.
Safer.
I stayed like that.
Alone.
Quiet.
But something felt off.
Because for the first time—
He didn't come.
Something felt off.
I noticed it by evening.
At first, I didn't think much of it.
The house was quiet.
That wasn't new.
But this felt different.
I stepped out of my room slowly, looking around.
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No presence.
No him.
Keifer Watson
My fingers tightened slightly at my sides.
Why am I even noticing…?
I walked toward the dining area.
Food was already there.
Prepared.
Placed neatly.
But he wasn't.
I stared at it for a second.
He didn't call me to eat.
Didn't tell me anything.
I pulled the chair and sat down quietly.
This is better.
Isn't it?
No arguments.
No tension.
No him.
I picked up the fork.
Took a bite.
And for some reason—
It didn't taste the same.
I frowned slightly.
That's stupid.
I ate a little more.
But not much.
Then pushed the plate away.
I wasn't hungry.
Or maybe—
I just didn't feel like eating alone.
I stood up, walking back slowly.
The hallway felt longer than usual.
Empty.
Too empty.
I stopped for a second.
My eyes moved—
Without me realizing.
Toward his door.
Closed.
I stared at it.
Why hasn't he come…?
The thought slipped in before I could stop it.
I frowned immediately.
Why do I care?
This is what I wanted.
Distance.
So why does it feel like something's missing?
I looked away quickly, shaking my head.
"This is better," I muttered.
But my voice didn't sound convincing.
At all.
I walked back into my room, closing the door.
Sat on the bed.
Silence.
Again.
I leaned back slowly, staring at the ceiling.
And for the first time—
His absence felt louder than his presence ever did.
I turned to my side, closing my eyes.
But sleep didn't come easily.
Because my mind kept going back to one thing—
Why didn't he come?
Keifer's POV
I didn't go to her.
Not after that.
Not after what she said.
"You don't get to act like you care."
The words replayed in my head.
Over and over again.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at nothing.
It shouldn't bother me.
She's right.
I made it clear from the start.
This marriage—
Wasn't about feelings.
Wasn't about her.
So why—
My jaw tightened slightly.
Why did it feel like that?
Like something inside my chest shifted.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
Something quieter.
Heavier.
Her voice.
The way she said it.
Cold.
Like I meant nothing.
And maybe—
I deserved that.
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.
I shouldn't have asked about him.
About Liam.
I crossed a line.
And she made sure I knew it.
My gaze dropped slightly.
"…you don't get to know anything about me."
That one stayed.
Because I don't.
I don't know what she went through.
I don't know what she lost.
I just saw her—
Breaking.
And still—
I pushed.
A bitter breath left me.
I stood up, walking toward the window.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
She's in her room.
I know that.
I could go.
Knock.
Say something.
But I didn't.
Because for the first time—
I didn't know what to say.
And for someone like me—
That's rare.
My hand rested against the glass.
"…you don't get to act like you care."
I looked down slightly.
Maybe she's right.
Maybe it is too late for that.
But the problem is—
I do.
And I don't know when that happened.
Or how.
I just know—
Her words—
They didn't make me angry.
They hurt.
And I'm not used to that.
Not because of someone else.
Especially not her.
I closed my eyes briefly.
Then stepped back.
Not going to her room.
Not saying anything.
Giving her space.
Like she wanted.
Even if it felt wrong.
Because right now—
That's the only thing I can do.
Stay away.
Even when every part of me doesn't want to.