Kingsley Academy

Chapter 41

After what feels like hours wrapped in Kade's arms, the weight of everything slowly starts to lift. I pull away, wiping my eyes, trying to steady my breath. "I don't want to spend my birthday crying like this," I whisper, my voice shaky but determined. "Let's go out. Freshen up."

Kade looks at me, his brow furrowed with concern. "It's okay not to be okay, baby," he says softly, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You don't have to push yourself."

But I shake my head, the heaviness still clinging to my chest. "It'll feel worse if I sit here and cry all day," I say, my voice a little stronger now. "Please. Let's just... forget about it."

"Forget about it?" Kade practically yells, his voice rising as anger flashes in his eyes. "How the hell am I supposed to forget about what he did to you?"

I flinch slightly, taken aback by the intensity of his reaction. But before he can continue, I cut him off, placing my hand on his chest. "For now," I say firmly. "Not forever. Not today. It's my birthday, Kade. Please... let's just focus on that."

He stands there, his chest heaving with barely contained anger, but then he looks at me—really looks at me—and I see the shift. His jaw tightens, but he nods, letting out a long breath. "Okay," he says, his voice softer now. "But this isn't over."

I give him a small, tired smile, taking his hand. "I know. But not today. Today... I just want it to be us."

He squeezes my hand, his eyes still dark with anger, but there's something softer underneath it now. "Alright, princess," he says, his voice low. "Let's go make this day yours."

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day still lingering, but determined to push past it. "You know what I want to do?" I say, my voice a little brighter.

Kade raises an eyebrow, still watching me closely. "What?"

"I want to go to an amusement park."

He stares at me for a second, then chuckles, shaking his head. "An amusement park? What are you, five?"

I laugh, feeling a small bit of relief at the sound of his teasing. "Come on. It'll be fun."

Kade smirks, but there's still a trace of tension in his eyes, that protective edge he can't quite let go of. "If you say so, princess."

I know him well enough to see through the fake smile he's wearing. Any other day, he would've argued, probably made some sarcastic comment, but today... today he's going to do whatever I want. And I know it's because he's worried. He's still hurting for me.

"You don't have to pretend, you know," I say softly, squeezing his hand.

He glances at me, the smirk fading, and for a second, I see the exhaustion in his eyes. "I'm not pretending. If this is what you want, I'm all in."

I smile at him, grateful for the effort he's making even though I can see how much he's holding back. "Thank you," I whisper.

"Anything for you," he says quietly, brushing his lips against my forehead.

The sound of carnival music fills the air, mixed with the excited screams of people on roller coasters and the chatter of families and couples wandering through the park. The bright colors, the smell of cotton candy, and the laughter all around feel like a completely different world from the heaviness of this morning.

I breathe it all in, my heart lighter for the first time today. Kade walks beside me, his arm slung around my shoulders protectively. Despite the calm atmosphere, I can still sense the tension in him. But as we pass by the rides, I feel a surge of excitement.