Chapter 32:
Let's start with trust.
How exactly do people build trust?
I genuinely used to think trust was something natural. Like you could meet someone and immediately know:
This person is trustworthy.
Or the opposite:
Nope. Absolutely not.
But now?
Trust is something built slowly through small and consistent actions rather than big promises or dramatic moments.
And honestly…
if trust is built, established, earned, or created—
Mine runs definitely deeper.
After leaving the two lovebirds behind, I returned to the villa carrying that heavy feeling inside my chest.
The worst part was—
I wasn't even angry.
Not truly.
It hurt more because I understood.
I understood why someone like Faye belonged beside him publicly.
Beautiful. Elegant. Perfect for his world.
And me?
I felt like some hidden side dish.
The girl you keep privately but never proudly present.
The thought alone made my chest ache.
After changing clothes, I buried my face into the bed and stayed there motionless.
The real question now was:
What exactly was I supposed to do?
Confront him?
And say what?
"So… Faye, huh?"
"I thought there was nothing between you two."
"When's the wedding?"
"Am I just too far beneath your world?"
Was I really supposed to say all of that out loud just to hear the truth I already feared?
Because if he confirmed it—
It would destroy me twice.
One thing became clear, though.
I needed to leave this place.
My final year of high school was turning into some dramatic movie, and honestly?
I wanted to quietly remove myself from the cast.
So I packed my things.
As soon as Lily returned, we left together.
And guess what?
She and Beau ended up sitting beside each other on the flight home.
Cute, right?
At least somebody's love life was progressing normally.
Before leaving, I wrote a small note for May.
Even after everything that happened, she had been so sweet to me that I couldn't bring myself to disappear without saying goodbye.
After the long flight and finally separating from Lily and Beau, I reached home exhausted.
The moment I entered the living room, I saw Tom casually playing games on the couch.
He looked up at me once before immediately asking:
"Where's the rich brat?"
I stared at him in confusion.
Without even pausing his game, he continued:
"You left this house smiling, sending updates every five minutes. Then, suddenly, nothing yesterday. Now you come back looking like someone punched your soul out of your body."
He finally glanced at me properly.
"So yeah. It's obviously the rich brat's fault."
Then he added dramatically:
"I am talking about your boyfriend. If he's still your boyfriend."
I forced a small laugh.
"You're reading way too much into things. Nothing happened. I just had too much fun and forgot to update everyone."
I pointed at my face awkwardly.
"And this is just because I'm tired. That's all."
Before he could continue interrogating me, I rushed upstairs to my room with the fakest smile imaginable.
After taking a shower, I collapsed onto my bed.
And honestly?
It felt good to be home.
All the luxury, fancy dinners, rich people, giant villas—
It was enough to make my brain dizzy.
My phone had been turned off the entire time.
And well…
You already know why.
There was still one more week before school started again.
I had imagined spending the break doing normal couple things with Jack.
Going out.
Talking.
Making memories.
But I guess life had other plans.
As my phone slowly turned back on, notifications immediately flooded the screen.
Missed calls.
Messages.
More missed calls.
Lily.
May.
Jack.
My chest tightened.
I hesitated for a moment before opening his messages first.
There was only one.
"Can you hear me out for five minutes? I want to explain everything to you. Let me talk to you. I'll be waiting at our usual park today."
And somehow—
That single message made my heart hurt more than everything else combined.