Lily's lips trembled as she spoke, her voice raw with emotion.
"I want to forget, Ethan. I really do. But I can't."
Her breath hitched.
"I can't just erase everything we've been through. I can't pretend it didn't happen. I'm sorry."
Ethan stared at her.
She looked so fragile, so breakable—like one wrong word could shatter her completely.
She had always been strong. But now, she looked like a woman who had carried too much for too long.
And suddenly, something inside him broke.
He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, desperately.
"Then don't forget." His voice was hoarse, thick with something unspoken. "I won't force you anymore, Lily. If you can't forget, then just—don't."
She froze.
His arms tightened around her.
"I was too impatient," he muttered, his voice filled with quiet regret. "I wanted to push you forward so badly, but I forgot that the person who hurt you the most was me."
Lily cried harder.
