Chapter 189

Rhodes POV

“The truth,” Troy said simply. “That Ramon is struggling with trauma and guilt. That he needs time and space to work through it. That this isn’t about Lake or Ollie—it’s about Ramon’s own mental health. And that you’ll all be here waiting when he’s ready to come home.”

“And if he’s never ready?” I asked quietly. “If Ramon stays in Barcelona? Decides that distance is permanent?”

“Then we deal with that when it happens,” Troy said. “But Rhodes—I don’t think Ramon will stay away forever. I think he loves Lake and Ollie too much. I think once he has some distance, once he’s worked through the worst of his guilt, he’ll realize that running wasn’t the answer. That his family needs him. And he’ll come back.”

“You have a lot of faith in him,” I observed.

“I have faith in love,” Troy corrected. “Ramon and Lake—what they have is real. It’s strong enough to survive this. But only if we give them both the space to figure that out on their own. Wit