𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐰𝐬

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟖

ELENA

I sit across from Christopher at the breakfast table, barely pushing my food around on the plate. He's watching me carefully, probably noticing how little I've eaten since I sat down. I haven't slept much, and my mind's been running in circles ever since I walked out last night.

"I found out that we were getting engaged one day after my birthday," I mutter, more to myself than him. Christopher raises a brow, waiting for me to continue. I take a deep breath, shaking my head at how twisted it all feels. "And I ran away on the night of his birthday. How perfect."

Christopher winces, clearly trying to choose his words carefully. "You didn't run away—"

"Yeah, I did." I cut him off, leaning back in my chair. "I literally packed my things, left a note, and walked out in the middle of the night. That's pretty much the definition of running away."

He sighs, tapping his fork against his plate before setting it down. "You needed space, Elle. There's nothing wrong with that."

I wish I could believe him. But I can't shake the irony, the bitter twist of everything. "He's probably losing his mind right now, though. Zade doesn't exactly do well with not being in control. I left without telling him anything. I know I hurt him."

Christopher leans forward, his expression softening. "He'll be okay. Zade's tough. You just... you need time to figure this out. That's fair."

I pick at my toast, feeling the weight of everything settle on my shoulders. "I know our love is real, Chris. I know it. But he knew for years that we were supposed to end up together, and he kept it from me. He had time to prepare, to adjust... and I didn't."

Christopher nods, his face serious. "I get that. It's a lot to take in, especially when you find out like that."

I push my plate aside, no longer interested in eating. "I don't even know if I'm mad about it anymore. I'm just... tired. He was always so sure about us. I wasn't. And now, I feel like I'm stuck trying to catch up."

"You don't have to catch up," he says quietly, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. "You're allowed to take your time."

I wish it were that easy.

I sigh, leaning my elbows on the table and resting my head in my hands. "I'm trying. But it feels like everything's happening too fast. I thought we had time to figure things out, to plan our future together. But now... now I'm wondering if I'll ever be ready."

Christopher's quiet for a moment, watching me with that protective, big-brother look. "You know," he says finally, "there's no deadline on this. Just because you found out about the engagement later doesn't mean you're on a different clock than him. You both have to make sure you're ready, not just Zade."

I glance up at him, feeling a small weight lift off my chest. "I guess I just always felt like I needed to be on his level. He's always one step ahead, always so sure of everything."

"Zade's sure about a lot of things," Christopher agrees, "but that doesn't mean he's perfect. He kept it from you because he thought it was for the best. Doesn't make it right, but he wasn't trying to hurt you. He loves you."

"I know that," I whisper. "I do. I just hate that he had time to think about this, to prepare for it, and I didn't. It's not fair."

"No, it's not," he says. "But you can take control now. You've got the time you need, and you're figuring out what's right for you. That's the important part."

I nod, feeling a small wave of relief at his words. "I guess so."

Christopher leans back, folding his arms across his chest. "Besides, it's not like you ran away for good. You just need some space."