"What do you mean?"
Her gaze shifted to Kai, who now remained silent with his head bowed. His quiet demeanor felt strange, as if an invisible chasm had suddenly formed between them. What had she done wrong? Was her mistake so severe that Kai was now asking her to leave?
Slowly, Kalea reached out and grabbed the shirt Kai was wearing. Her heart felt heavy, but she needed answers. She needed honesty from the man who had been by her side all this time.
"Why are you saying this all of a sudden? I've decided to stay with you, to live this life with you. You're the one who loves me, aren't you?" Kalea pleaded, her voice filled with hope. She tried to read Kai's expression, but he kept his head down as if hiding something he didn't want her to see. "I'm not going back to him."
Kai's clenched fists loosened, and he finally looked at her. "I don't want you to keep lying to yourself."
"I'm not—"
