Chapter 14: The Breaking Point
The days that followed were some of the hardest for both of them. Ayla threw herself into work, trying to distract herself from the ache in her chest. But no matter how busy she kept herself, thoughts of Caden lingered.
Caden, on the other hand, was a wreck. He texted Ayla every day, hoping for a response. But she never replied. Ella tried to cheer him up, but even her relentless optimism couldn't pull him out of the funk.
"You need to do something," Ella said one evening, sitting across from him. "You can't just mope around forever."
Caden sighed. "I don't know what to do, Ella. She needs space."
"And you're just going to wait around for her?"
"What else can I do?"
Ella smirked. "You could try…I don't know…winning her back?"
Caden gave her a tired look. "You make it sound so easy."
Ella shrugged. "It's not. But if you care about her, you'll find a way."
And so, Caden made a decision. He wasn't going to let Ayla slip away without a fight. He'd give her the space she needed—but he'd also make sure she knew exactly how much she meant to him.
Because sometimes, love was about taking risks. Even when everything felt like it was falling apart.