Henry flinched as if struck. "What do you mean you can't?" he asked, his tone tinged with disbelief. "You can. We can fix this together. I'm willing to forgive, Jade. All I need is for you to choose us over him. That's all."
Tears spilled freely down Jade's cheeks as she shook her head. "It's not that simple," she said, her voice trembling. "I've fallen... too deep. I don't deserve your forgiveness. I don't deserve you."
Henry's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists. "Don't give me that," he snapped, his emotions finally breaking through his calm exterior. "Don't act like this is out of your control. You chose this, Jade. You chose him. And now you're telling me you can't even try to make things right?"
Jade lifted her gaze to meet his, and the raw pain in her eyes nearly broke him. "I don't have the strength to fight it anymore, Henry," she admitted, her voice cracking. "I wish I did, but I don't. I've become someone I don't even recognize... someone I hate."
