Chapter 130

ROBERT'S POV

The world felt like it was crashing down around me. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have let Ariana slip away a second time? The realization hit me like a freight train, the weight of my own incompetence crushing my chest.

Anger bubbled up, not just at myself, but at Josh for encouraging me not to run after Ariana. He had said she needed space, that chasing her would only make things worse. And like a fool, I listened. I let my fear of making things worse paralyze me, and now she was gone. The image of her walking away, hurt and angry, replayed in my mind over and over. I was angry at Sylvia too. If not for her thoughtless remark, Ariana never would have gotten angry.

Oh! Crap! How could I have let this happen again? I swore to protect her, to never let anything harm her again, and yet here I was, failing her once more. My heart pounded with a mix of fear and rage. Every second that passed without knowing where she was, or if she was safe, felt like a kni