Chapter 61

Daphne

Zach waited all night for me.

I saw him from my window, but I avoided him. Normally, he would have forced his way in or found some excuse to make me come out. But this time was different. He stayed inside his car even after night fell, unmoving.

Eventually, he left.

The moment his car disappeared down the street, something inside me went strangely hollow—like a thread had snapped without warning.

I pressed a hand to my chest, frowning.

It shouldn’t matter.

And yet… it did.

I should have felt relieved.

Instead, an uneasy weight settled low in my stomach.

I told myself it was just basic human decency. Nothing more.

Still… the silence he left behind felt louder than his presence ever had.

The rest of my day went peacefully. There was no sign of Zach anywhere. I had expected him to return, and I even rehearsed what I would say to make him leave for good. But surprisingly, he didn’t show up.

Did s