Page 229 of The Bittersweet Bond

Only she didn’t run.

She never did.

No, he was the one who pulled away.

Because somewhere deep down, he thought she deserved more.

And that belief had nothing to do with her.

But it was too late now.

The thought dug into him like a splinter—small, almost invisible, but deep enough that he wouldn’t be able to ignore it.

It was too late to undo it. Too late to go back. Too late to tell her that he hated watching her walk away.

Too late to admit that it felt like he had just lost everything.

Chapter 59

3 Months After

Evin

"Iswear, I can't take another second of this," Milka muttered, downing the rest of her drink in one go.

Evin let out a dry laugh. "You haven't even started yet."

"I've seen enough." Milka’s gaze swept across the lavishly decorated room, her expression hovering somewhere between boredom and mild annoyance. Twinkling fairy lights hung from the ceiling, the tables were elegantly set, and well-dressed students mingled with their parents and teachers. Some had already broken away from the adults, standing in small groups, laughing, drinking, flirting.

It was a picture that could have been pulled straight from last year—or any other high school movie. But for Evin, it felt surreal.

Three months.

Three months of training, partying, new faces that came and went without making any real difference.

Three months oflaughing, flirting, drowning in loud music and packed dance floors because it was easier not to feel when the bass was pounding in her veins. She had laughed, accepted drinks from older guys, dragged Milka into her reckless escapades—deliberately ignoring everything that didn't fit into this picture.

Ignoring the fact that Bas was spending time with Cat again.

Ignoring the fact that it hurt, even though she had sworn it wouldn’t.

Not that she didn’t know.

He was here, just like she was. And Cat was by his side. Sometimes. Not officially, but often enough for people to speculate. And often enough that she was constantly forced to confront it.

Evin blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts. Milka had picked up another Coke and was stirring her straw absentmindedly, as if she was seconds away from spiraling into a full existential crisis.

"We deserve better than this, don’t we?"

"Definitely." Her eyes flickered tohim, in his natural environment, grinning, with his guys, and Cat nearby.

Milka snorted quietly. "I’m serious. This has got to be the lamest version of a banquet ever."

"We’re only juniors."

"And?" She took a sip and grimaced. "I’d rather have less small talk and more alcohol."

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the hum of conversation and the occasional clinking of silverware filling the gaps.

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