Meant to Collide

81. Sky Without the Star

Jules stood there, her presence striking yet heartbreaking, her voice trembling as she spoke with a forced smile. "Have you been doing well, Sir Sky? You never replied to my texts. I didn't see you when I dropped by your house earlier. You...you look dazzling in this suit."

Sky, frozen in place, felt his heart shatter at the sight of her. He struggled to meet her gaze, his voice barely audible as he replied, "Grandmother asked me to get married. I had two options: to run away or to fulfill her last wish. She was hospitalized because of me. I..I can't do that to her." His eyes turned red, brimming with tears.

Jules nodded, her smile faltering as her own tears began to fall. "I understand," she said softly, though her heart screamed otherwise.

"No, you don't," Sky replied instantly, his voice laced with anguish.

Jules took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You love your family so much..you always have. It wouldn't be right for you to be selfish, to leave your grandmother for me. I've known this all along, Sky." Her voice cracked as she spoke, tears streaming down her face.

"Mon..." Sky tried to reach out, his words failing him.

Jules shook her head, her resolve breaking but her love unwavering. "I'm here today because I needed to see you, to hear these words from you. And now I have." Her tears fell freely, each one carrying a piece of her breaking heart.

"I'm sorry, Mon," Sky whispered, his voice raw. "I'm horrible...indecisive...useless."

Jules took his hand, holding it tightly for a moment before letting go. She smiled through her pain, her love shining in her eyes. "Do what you must do, Sky. I will always love you."

As she began to walk away, Sky moved instinctively, wrapping his arms around her from behind. His voice trembled as he asked, "So...does this mean we've broken up?"

Jules closed her eyes, letting his warmth linger for a moment longer before pulling away. "Let's think of this as your new beginning, Sir Sky Chandler," she replied, her voice breaking. Without another word, she disappeared into the distance, leaving him standing there, his heart heavy and his tears unrestrained.

It had been a few months since Jules had last seen Sky, but the weight of their final encounter still clung to her heart like a shadow. She stood quietly, lost in thought, when a hand rested gently on her shoulder.

"Sir Sky?" Jules whispered, turning around quickly, hope flashing in her eyes for a fleeting moment.

Kade shook his head, his face somber. "He won't come, Mon," he said softly.

Jim, standing beside him, hesitated before adding bluntly, "He's going to be married in less than a month, Mon."

Kade shot Jim a warning look, his eyes urging him to stop. But Jim, always the one to speak his mind, continued, "I told you, Kade. She needs to hear this. I said we need to help her get over it."

Jules forced a faint smile, though her heart was breaking anew. "Thanks for worrying about me," she said, her voice trembling but resolute. "But it's impossible for me to move on. I love him so much."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with pain. After a pause, Jules inhaled deeply and continued, "I have to tell you something. I've decided to find a new job...in England."

Jim's eyes widened. "What? Are you for real? That's amazing! We're so happy for you!" he exclaimed, trying to inject enthusiasm into the somber moment.

Jules gave him a small, grateful smile. "Can I ask you for a favor?" she asked, her voice soft and pleading. "Please don't let Sir Sky know about this. I don't want him to worry about me."

Kade and Jim exchanged hesitant glances before nodding reluctantly. "Alright," Kade said, his voice tinged with unease.

"I'll take my leave then," Jules said, her tone polite but distant. She turned to walk away, her steps heavy with finality. "Bye, guys."

Once Jules was out of sight, Jim let out a long sigh. "Come out already, Mon's gone," he called out.

From behind a nearby pillar, Sky stepped forward, his face pale and gaunt. His once-bright eyes were clouded with pain and regret.

"Sky, are you really not planning to meet Mon for real?" Jim asked, his tone a mix of frustration and curiosity.

Sky didn't answer. He simply stared at the ground, his silence more telling than any words could be.

After a week, the day felt heavy, even though the morning sun cast its warm rays through the living room window. Jules adjusted her scarf as she walked in, greeted by her father's broad smile.

"Oh, here comes my angel," her father said, his voice filled with pride and warmth. "So beautiful."

Jules returned his smile, a genuine one that momentarily masked her inner turmoil. "Thanks, Dad," she replied with a soft laugh, the corners of her lips lifting in an effort to maintain the cheerful facade.

Her mother, standing nearby, examined Jules with a worried frown. "I still can't get used to this new haircut," she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of disapproval and concern.

"Why?" her father teased, his tone lighthearted. "I think it looks pretty." Then, with a mock-serious expression, he added, "Though there's one tiny thing..your neck will feel the cold air there. It snows a lot in England, doesn't it?"

Jules's mother sighed, clearly upset. She placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder, the silent gesture carrying all the worries she hadn't voiced. Jules noticed and instinctively reached out to hold her mother's hand.

"Mom," Jules said gently, her voice soothing, "I'll be fine. I promise I'll call often."

Her mother's eyes glistened as she nodded, pulling Jules into a tight hug. "You're departing in two weeks," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too, Mom," Jules said, her own voice steady but her heart heavy. She held her mother close, closing her eyes as she fought to push away the thoughts of Sky that inevitably crept in. She wouldn't talk about him anymore, not to her family, not to anyone.

Meanwhile, across town, Sky sat alone in his room, his hands trembling as he held the bracelet Jules had given him. Beside it lay the ring, a token of a love he could never fully let go of. Tears streamed down his face, unchecked and unstoppable.

Each sob that wracked his chest carried the weight of his regret and longing. His shoulders slumped forward as if the very act of crying was too much to bear. The room was silent except for the sound of his uneven breaths.

"Sky," a familiar voice called softly from the doorway. He quickly wiped his tears and looked up to see his grandmother, Lady Arina, standing there with a concerned expression.

"You should rest," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "Your wedding date is near."

Sky nodded, his voice barely audible. "Yes, Grandma," he replied, rising from his seat with practiced obedience. He moved toward the door, his steps slow and mechanical.

"Wait," Lady Arina called after him, her voice stopping him in his tracks.

He turned to face her, his expression blank but his eyes betraying the storm of emotions within.

"Thank you for believing in me," she said, her voice softer now. "You are the grandchild I love the most. I will do everything to make you happy."

Her hand reached out to pat his head, a gesture meant to comfort and reassure. But Sky took a step back, his voice hollow as he muttered, "Excuse me." Without waiting for her response, he turned and left the room.

Lady Arina stood there, her hand frozen mid-air. Her gaze drifted to the family photograph on the mantle. In it, Sky, Selena, and Silvia were all smiles, their faces radiating the pure joy of a time long past.

She stared at the image, her mind filled with memories of laughter and carefree days. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she traced her fingers over the glass, her thoughts growing heavier with every passing second.