“You don’t know how much I needed to hear that. Thank you.”
She gradually opens her eyes and peers into mine.
“I could not have done this without either of you. It is not a matter of choosing because I simply can’t do that. I have already thought about it so much over the months and it’s impossible. I spent time with both of you equally to see if I could separate you in my heart and choose, to see if I could live without the other, but I cannot. So—”
As confusion washes over my features, she raises her head, searching my eyes.
“I leave next month.”
I shake my head once and she nods gently.
"This isn't where I want to be anymore, Reign. It is not a decision I want to make. It is not something I can do. I love you both, and neither of you outweighs the other; therefore, this is the only choice I have. I'm sorry."
“But Char—”
She closes her eyes and faces away, causing me to cut off, knowing that this is her final decision and nothing I can say will stop her. She has been through too much. She needs to find her peace in any way she can, even if it hurts us all in the process. I know I can’t press her on it, but hopefully she will change her mind in the coming weeks.
“Is there anything I can say or do to stop you from fucking leaving?”
She inhales deeply, wiping the tears from her cheeks before she returns her watery gaze to me.
“I am sorry, no. I have made my decision, and I need you to honor it. Adding pressure to what already is a hard decision won't make things any easier for me, so, please, Reign, I'm begging you, don’t stand in my way.”
My eyes close and I face aside, my jaw tense at the thought of never seeing her again, but she raises her palm, placing it on my cheek, which prompts me to look at her once more.
“You’ll make a fine husband and whoever you wife up will be an extremely lucky woman.”
She smiles softly yet it is loaded with sorrow, and it pierces through me, leaving me speechless. I know she is meant for us, not anyone else and we both found something irreplaceable in her, something beyond anything we can explain. She is fucking ours, and she always will be.
"And just to let you know, you guys redeemed yourselves, and in my eyes, you've more than made amends. I feel strength building inside me, and it is because of your support. I just want you to know, with all my heart, that I forgive you, so please do not carry the weight of what happened any longer. Maddox's actions were his own doing. They had nothing to do with either of you and he would have found me regardless."
I release a tense breath from her words as if the weight of the world just eased off my shoulders and I rest my brow against hers, my eyes low.
“I will make it easier for you, Char. I will step aside for Chaos. I can’t see you out of my life forever.”
“Reign, please.”
Her cracked, pain-filled voice is barely audible before she wraps her arms around my neck, drawing me in close to her tiny frame and I cloak mine around her back, squeezing her tight.
“I promise you; this is for the best.”
Sadness fills my heart as I press my face against the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet, floral scent that I have come to love.We share the embrace for a while until I pull back, our eyes connecting and give a head gesture in the direction of the door.
“Let’s get a takeaway and chill. Watch some shit.”
A big smile grows on her face, her eyes lightening up and I take in her features, hating myself for it. Her smile turns into a smirk with a quirked eyebrow.
“Do I get to choose what we eat tonight?”
I don’t smile in return, but my eyes are giving away the amusement that is dancing around in them since I know she’s attempting to make me eat shit and I raise my chin, responding calmly.
“Anything for my queen.”
My dark eyes wander down her body hungrily as I wrap my hands around her waist, squeezing it tightly with a growl and pulling a gasp from her.
“As long as I get to eat you after.”
When my eyes flash to hers, she giggles before giving a small nod in agreement. I hoist her around me and she clings on securely while I move with her. I lower myself and she squeals when I smack her ass, ducking between the ropes.
