The Fallen Angel

57. "Silent Signals"

I stood in silence, my eyes darting between Aiden and Ero, feeling the heaviness of their confrontation bearing down on me. "It's all on me," I finally admitted, my voice trembling with emotion. As Ero turned his gaze towards me, his eyes piercing, I struggled to find the right words. "I'm sorry-" I began, but tears welled up, blurring my vision, and my words faltered, my heart heavy with regret.

Aria's voice broke through the tension, sharp with anger and frustration. "What's there to apologize for?" she demanded, her tone cutting. "You ain't done nothing wrong. You regretting opening up to us? Is that why you're saying sorry? I warned you he'd cause you pain."

Ero released his grip on Aiden and approached me, his expression conflicted. "Why ain't you listening to your friend?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "Did she tell you to leave me? Then just go," he concluded, resignation heavy in his words.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do," I whispered, my voice barely audible amidst the turmoil of emotions. Aria's anger softened as she witnessed my vulnerability, her concern evident in her expression.

"I like you, Ero. I want the world to know how much I like you," I confessed, my voice gaining strength with each word. "I don't want to leave you-" My sentence trailed off as Ero's gaze shifted to Aria, his own emotions conflicted.

"I'm-" I started, but before I could finish, Ero pulled me into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around me as he patted my back soothingly. "It's okay," he murmured softly, his words offering a sense of comfort amidst the chaos of our emotions.
"I know," Ero murmured softly, his voice tinged with understanding. As Aiden attempted to draw closer, sensing the gravity of the moment, Aria stepped in, her hand signaling him to hold back. I caught her whispered words, "Let them be," before she silently withdrew, leaving us to confront our emotions in solitude.

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ERO POV

As we walked together, silence enveloped us like a heavy fog. Isabelle didn't utter a single word, her demeanor distant and preoccupied as she quickened her pace, seemingly eager to reach her destination. We didn't reach out to each other, nor did we attempt to unravel the tangled mess of emotions that lingered between us.

Arriving at her doorstep, Isabelle spoke tersely, her eyes avoiding mine as she declared, "I'm going in," before swiftly opening the door and disappearing inside, leaving me standing alone on the threshold.

As my ego pricked at me, I couldn't bear to let her slip away without a word. "See you," I muttered, attempting to turn away in resignation. But before she could shut the door, a surge of determination propelled me forward. "Wait! Can we talk now?" I pleaded, my voice tinged with urgency.

She remained silent, her lips pressed together tightly as she tried to close the door against my entreaty. Without hesitation, I reached out, placing my hand between the door and the frame, a surge of frustration coursing through me. With a firm push, I deflected the door aside and stepped into her space.

"What are you doing?" Isabelle demanded, her voice betraying a hint of apprehension as she instinctively backed away from my sudden intrusion.

"You need to leave, my parents will be here soon," Isabelle insisted, her eyes darting around anxiously. Her cat sauntered over, letting out a soft meow, but I kept my attention fixed on Isabelle.

"What's the deal with all of this? I'm seriously lost. I don't even know what kinda relationship we're in. It's a total cluster," I laid out my frustration, the disappointment dripping from my words. Isabelle let out a heavy sigh, her lips pressed into a tight line as she locked eyes with me.

"Then maybe it's time we cut ties," she said bluntly, her words carrying the weight of resignation."What did you just say?" I demanded, my anger bubbling to the surface.

Isabelle met my gaze with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "I said maybe it's time we call it quits," she reiterated, her tone steady despite the tension in the air.

My heart clenched at her words, a surge of emotions coursing through me. "But why?" I pleaded, my voice tinged with desperation.

Isabelle sighed, her expression softening slightly. "We both know things haven't been right between us for a while now," she began, her words measured. "Maybe it's better if we go our separate ways and figure things out on our own."

I felt a knot form in my stomach as her words sank in. "But I love you," I confessed, the weight of my feelings heavy in the air.

Isabelle's eyes softened, but there was a hint of sadness in her gaze. "I love you too," she admitted quietly. "But sometimes love isn't enough to fix everything." My anger burned like hot coals, igniting every fiber of my being as her words sliced through me. Without a second thought, I clenched my fists tightly, my knuckles turning white with the force of my rage.

"How dare you?" I roared, my voice echoing off the walls like thunder. "After all we've been through, you're just ready to throw it all away like it meant nothing?"

Isabelle recoiled at the intensity of my anger, her eyes widening in shock. "I-I didn't mean it like that," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then how did you mean it?" I demanded, my voice dripping with venom. "Enlighten me, Isabelle. Because from where I'm standing, it sounds like you're giving up without a fight."

Tears welled up in Isabelle's eyes, but I felt no sympathy, only the burning fury pulsing through my veins. "Maybe this is for the best," she muttered, her voice barely audible amidst the storm of emotions.

Isabelle remained unmoved, her resolve unwavering even in the face of my anger. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her words like a dagger through my heart.

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