Chapter 148

Shantelle’s POV

“Hey,” I managed to say, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

He returned the gesture, but it felt like a mask, hiding the deeper emotions swirling beneath the surface.

I took a moment to collect my thoughts, the memories of our past flooding back—both the joyful moments and the painful ones.

“Thanks for meeting me,” he said, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of urgency.

I nodded, the weight of our history pressing heavily on my chest.

The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. I could feel the tension in the air, a palpable mix of hope and apprehension.

“I know I messed up,” he continued, his gaze dropping to the table as if he were searching for the right words among the sugar packets scattered before us. “I’ve spent so much time reflecting on everything that happened. I don’t expect you to forgive me immediately, but I want you to know that I’m comm