Maddie POV
I watched Stephen walk away, and it was like the world stopped for a moment. I couldn't help but feel my heart sink as I watched him walk away, the tension in his shoulders betraying all the pain he was trying to hide. Derek was by my side, but it was impossible to ignore the emptiness that settled inside me.
“He'll get over it,” Derek said, trying to sound confident, but there was hesitation in his voice.
I looked at him, feeling a mixture of guilt and confusion. “Get over what, Derek? What he feels isn’t something that just… disappears.”
He sighed, looking away for a moment. “Maddie, I'm not trying to minimize how he feels. I'm just saying he's going to move on. He’s strong, you know that.”
I shook my head, unable to contain the bitter tone in my voice. “He’s strong, but
