#Chapter 95: Always Her Protector

Matt

The night hung heavy with an oppressive stillness, broken only by the distant hum of city life. Matt stood hidden in the shadows, heart pounding, his breath a silent echo in the park. As much as he told himself not to do it, he couldn’t help following Celeste and Alyx around on their date. The sight made him sick to his stomach. It should have been him with her.

They strolled down the sidewalk, laughter and flirtatious banter punctuating the cool evening air. Celeste's radiant smile, once meant solely for him, now danced across her face in Alyx's presence. It felt like a thousand knives, each twist of the blade reopening old wounds.

Alyx, with his bed-tousled hair and confident stride, seemed to have charmed his way into Celeste’s world. Matt clenched his fists, resentment simmering beneath the surface. He should have been the one to take her hand, to share these moments. But he had let his insecurities build a wall, and now he was condemned to watch from the shadows.

Just as Mat