Alex
Camilla called me a stranger.
The words stayed, cutting deeper than I expected. I earned it, though. I had broken her trust and walked away when she needed me most. But hearing her say it out loud made me realize how far I had fallen in her eyes.
Still, what hurt more was seeing her pretend that everything was fine—that she had fully healed.
As I turned to leave the restaurant, Ava's crying eyes tugged at my heart. Her innocence made the rejection more painful.
"I'm sorry, my little princess," I whispered, crouching to her level. I gently patted her back, feeling the connection I hadn't fully understood before.
Then, I walked away, each step heavier than the last.
---
I had seen Camilla before Ava ran toward me.
She was laughing—truly laughing—with David.
