𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

➻Chapter 58- Collapsed.

ADELE'S POV:

Two days.

Two whole days since I told my friends the truth.

And for two long, unbearable days, I've been hiding behind a mask, pretending, smiling, lying, right in front of the one person who means everything to me. Tyler Scott. Lying straight to his face.

And God, I hated myself for it.

Max was out of the country, caught up in his dad's project, unreachable. Our only shot at uncovering the full truth still dangling out of reach. And in the meantime, I'd been suffocating. Drowning in guilt, in fear... in love.

Today was Tyler's birthday. Finally. The day I had both dreaded and longed for. The day I would peel off my mask. The day Altair and Vega would meet face-to-face and fall apart just as quickly.

My hands trembled as I tied the last ribbon onto the stage I'd been decorating. My thoughts were spinning, but I forced myself to stay focused.

I stood up and slowly looked around the room. It was beautiful. Streamers, fairy lights, flowers, everything perfectly placed. All so... pretty.

Pretty.

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips, and my eyes stung. The irony of it all. This dreamy decor, this picture-perfect setting... all meant to cushion the blow of the ugliest truth he was ever going to hear.

I brushed the back of my hand over my face and made my way to the round table I'd set for the two of us, decorated with soft roses and delicate ribbons. Just like he had done when he confessed to me. I wanted it to be perfect, if only for a few stolen hours. If not me, then at least this moment could be something he'd remember.

I'd planned it all. Booked a private auditorium, arranged a quiet dinner—pizza, of course. Our thing. The couple T-shirts with the words "you complete me" a sweet reminder of our first ridiculous pizza battle and everything that came after.

I smiled through the tears threatening to spill. Just for a little while, I wanted to live in this—us. No lies. No secrets. Just our love, in its purest form.

Just the two of us.

I sniffled, the doubt creeping in again. Could I really go through with this? Could I turn this beautiful night into a memory he might never recover from?

But the choice wasn't mine anymore.

I had to.

Even if it ripped me to shreds in the process.

—

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, brushing my fingers over the netted green fabric of my gown—as if smoothing it out could somehow erase what I'd done.

Nicole leaned against my wardrobe, arms crossed, watching me in silence before sighing softly.

"Are you sure you'll be able to do this?" she asked gently. "...Alone?"

My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I bit my lower lip.

"Do I have a choice?" I muttered, keeping my gaze lowered. "I already made one disastrous decision and I'm still paying for it. Might as well not make another one."

"Adele..." Nicole stepped forward, wrapping an arm around me. "I know I spoke too harshly before, but really, when I think about it, you did what you thought would protect him. I'm sure he'll understand. I'm sure he'll come around—"

"I don't expect him to," I cut in quietly.

My eyes burned, but I refused to let the tears fall.

"He's not responsible for my mistakes, Nicole. He should never have to pay for my stupidity." My voice cracked despite my efforts. "He deserves none of this. And yet... here he is—about to have his world shattered because I couldn't think straight."