The evening had been chaotic, emotions swirling like a storm inside Lily. Noah's sudden arrival, her smug smile, and the sight of Xavier by her side had shattered every fragile piece of peace Lily had built over the past year. David had stayed close all night, sensing her unease, offering silent strength through his presence. But as the night wore on, he had disappeared somewhere inside the house.
Lily, needing air and clarity, walked toward the balcony—their balcony. It had always been her escape, her sanctuary. The moonlight bathed the marble floor in silver, and the soft wind brushed her cheeks like a whisper from the past.
And there he was.
A tall silhouette standing quietly against the railing, back turned, familiar in the way he stood, in the way his hands rested on the edge. Her heart lifted as warmth flooded through her. David. Of course. He always knew she'd come here when the world got too heavy.
Without hesitation, she walked softly toward him, her footsteps almost silent. A small smile tugged at her lips. She reached out, slid her arms around him from behind, and whispered:
"I missed you."
The figure stiffened slightly in her arms, and before she could say another word, he turned around.
Her heart dropped.
It wasn't David.
It was Xavier.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched, deafening, painful. Lily's arms fell to her sides, her breath caught in her throat.
Xavier's expression was unreadable—shocked, soft, maybe even hopeful. "Lily…" he said, voice barely above a whisper.
Lily took a shaky step back. Her pulse roared in her ears. "I—I thought you were—" She didn't finish. Her mind raced to David, the real David. The man who held her heart now.
"Why did you say you missed me?" Xavier asked gently.
She looked up at him, eyes filled with disbelief and hurt. "It wasn't for you."
He lowered his gaze. "But I wish it was."
Her jaw clenched. She stepped further back, tears rising, not from missing him—but from the haunting reminder that her past still knew how to walk right into her present.
"I made a mistake," she said coldly, turning away. "Don't follow me."
And she walked off the balcony, leaving Xavier standing under the moonlight — holding on to a moment that was never his to begin with.