Chapter 16
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Ryder’s face slowly drained of all color as I spoke.
My parents must have sensed something was wrong too, because their expressions immediately turned serious as they looked at him.
“What’s going on now? Are you two fighting again?”
“It’s not fighting, just a misunderstanding. I think-” Ryder started.
I actually laughed at his attempt to reframe everything.
Setting down my knife and fork, I sat up straight, my eyes cutting into him like a blade.
“A misunderstanding? Is that what you call it? Then why come all the way to Spain talking about apologies and making amends?”
Seeing me getting angry, Ryder’s parents jumped in anxiously.
“Autumn, this is all Ryder’s fault. He should be the one apologizing to you.”
My parents looked even more confused now, exchanging baffled glances.
I’d finally found some peace in my life, only to have it disrupted like this. I was done with riddles and hints. It was time to lay everything out in the open.
“Ryder and I were together after we turned eighteen. We never made it public, but in my heart, I thought we were in a real relationship. Then Elle came back from Paris, and he told me that she was the one he’d always wanted–that I was just one of his buddies.”
My voice grew more intense as I continued, tears forming in my eyes.
“I didn’t say anything. I chose to step aside! I even moved to Spain to cut all ties. I’ve given up everything, and still, Ryder, why can’t you just leave me alone?”
This time, my tears were only for myself.
For the girl who had loved for so many years, waited for so many years, been
dismissed and misunderstood, abandoned and ignored.
Both sets of parents were hearing the whole story directly from our mouths for the first time.
All four of them turned to Ryder, wanting to know if what I’d said was true.
But he kept his head down, his silence serving as his answer.
My parents‘ faces instantly hardened.
Ryder’s parents had an even stronger reaction, glaring at their son and demanding
answers.
“Is what Autumn’s saying true? Ryder, how could you do.something like this?” Ryder couldn’t deny it.
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He looked like someone was squeezing his chest, barely able to force out a few words.
“Yes… I’m sorry, Autumn. I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan.”
The child my parents had loved for over twenty years turned out to be the man who had broken their daughter’s heart.
They couldn’t accept this reality.
Fury washed over them, making it impossible to stay at the table with the Caldwells. My father slammed down his utensils, and they both stood up, taking me with them as they left.
Ryder’s parents followed, apologizing profusely.
My father looked at his old friend, making no effort to hide his disappointment and
anger.
“If it were anything else, we could talk about it. But this concerns Autumn. James, don’t say anything else. What’s done is done, and there’s nothing more to discuss.” Watching the three of us walk away, Ryder felt his heart twist into knots.
Guilt and regret crashed over him like a tidal wave, threatening to drown him. For the first time, he truly realized that he and I had reached a point of no return. No amount of groveling or apologizing could fix this.
I wasn’t the same girl who could be easily comforted anymore, and I would never give him another chance.
Once lost, truly lost forever.
A broken mirror can’t be made whole, and spilled water can’t be gathered back up.
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