Chapter 402

Layla’s POV

The soft creak of the bedroom door closing behind Maddy was the only sound in the room, yet it felt deafening. 

I walked over to the window, pushing aside the heavy curtain just enough to catch a glimpse of her as she left Jason’s mansion. 

The early morning sunlight bathed her in a golden glow, but even from this distance, I could see the tension in her shoulders.

I pressed my hand against the cool glass, my chest tightening as I watched her walk further away. 

She didn’t look back, but I could feel the weight of her thoughts, the same weight that had lingered between us during our goodbye.

Our hug had been more than just an embrace… it was a promise, a plea, and a silent acknowledgment of the bond we shared. 

The peck she’d given me on the cheek before pulling away still lingered, a faint warmth against my skin. I’d wanted to hold onto her forever, to beg her to stay, but I couldn’t.