I didn't get how much it hurts until I found myself lying on the bathroom floor, tears rolling down my face, struggling to breathe, and crying a lot. It was like all those people who felt heartbroken before me. And you know what's worse? It wasn't Max who broke my heart; it was me, myself, and I. I didn't understand myself, didn't get what was going on, and, most importantly, didn't trust myself.... —FLASHBACK—My Last Day on Hayman IslandThad met up with Justin as planned, and I enjoyed every moment of him talking about his date with Ariel. They met during the laser tag game. But after that, things went downhill.Why, you ask?Because I'm just dumb, that's why. I'd soon realize I didn't deserve someone like Max Blackwell."So, this is it, huh?" Beth said as I packed. "The book's almost done, so you're ready to go.""That's why you brought me here, right?" I said with a smirk, even though my chest hurt a bit. I realized that tomorrow, Max would start a new life with the same woman

—FLASHBACK—During the time when Christian chose to leave us for some alone time, I didn't expect that Max and I would fall into a prolonged silence.But now, here we are, still holding hands, without saying a single word.Initially, I made my decision without much hesitation, thinking it was the right thing to do. However, as his strong fingers hold onto mine, it suddenly feels like an impossible task.I know I must let him go. I understand that very well. Maybe that's why it hurts even more this time. When I first broke up with Max, I believed that he was the reason for our downfall. Now, I realize that it was my fault all along. I didn't fight as hard as he did, and I will always have to face the consequences of my actions."I guess I owe you an apology," I finally break the silence after a long pause. But he doesn't respond. I can't blame him, though. I give him a few more moments alone before reluctantly releasing his hand. Then, I ask, "Do you remember the morning after our firs

Present Day - Summer of 2024 - Isabella Vega**"He said it's not over. It's still not over!" He blurts out before I can utter a word. My stunned posture makes it difficult for me to articulate a response.Instead, my thoughts race.Among the myriad thoughts flooding my mind, a memory from my freshman year of college surfaces: the Wattpad characters Avery dared me to read about.And why does this matter now?Well, at this moment, I realize that I've always glimpsed aspects of those improbable male protagonists in the man standing in front of me.He possessed a keen eye for detail like Sam Cahill, revealing it only when it suited him.He had the resilience of Ryder Daniels, who would still yelp when I playfully teased him.His demeanor mirrored the danger of Jake O'Connell but concealed a softer side.He could be as guarded as Keegan Meth but knew when to extend trust to the right people.His past was turbulent, reminiscent of Hardin Scott, yet he refused to let it haunt him.To me, he

~Three Months Later-IsabellaI'm aware of the assumptions, folks, and yes, my challenging partner and I have indeed come this far—quite far, to be exact. Our communication might have hit rock bottom back then, but we've dedicated ourselves to improving it during the past few months we've spent together. Surprisingly, we've never been in a better place.A lot has changed, without a doubt. But, as I've been observing a lot lately, everything unfolds for a reason.Max and I, for instance, have been cohabiting since he executed a daring move, reminiscent of Henry Court, pursuing me across the globe. Well, without the whole motorcycle-racing-down-the-runway-and-proposal affair, but it was still undeniably intense.The initial weeks of our reunion were consumed by reminiscing about the things we've missed in each other's lives, always culminating in pledges that we were genuinely committed to keeping this time around.Then the second month arrived, prompting us to come clean to our loved o

Later That Day"Five more minutes, I promise," I call back, securing the last bobby pin to keep my wild hair in check. I'll be surprised if they manage to hold anything given where we're headed tonight, but hey, I'm too lazy to take them out now."Take your time, I'll be in the living room!"Once I've tucked away the last bobby pin in who knows where, I check myself in the mirror one final time before joining Max."Sorry I took so long," I grimace when I find him on the couch engrossed in Real Housewives of Atlanta."No worries, ba—" His words vanish into thin air the moment his eyes land on me. I can't help but smile when they're replaced with a groan as he bites his fist."How does it look?" I ask, walking over to the door to slip on my white Converse."Like I'm not going to last long tonight," he replies smoothly, turning off the TV to stand up and join me at the door. "Holy fuck, I'm the luckiest motherfucker alive."Melting in his arms when he kisses my forehead, I thank my lucky