Chapter 230: The distance and longing
His words broke her trance, and she pulled back instantly. She took a step back abruptly, the warmth of Dylan’s touch lingering on her lips. She had let her guard down and allowed herself to sink into the moment, and now her heart was racing with conflicting emotions.
Dylan was nervous in the face of her flustered look. He was afraid she would ask him to leave and that she would refuse to talk to him. "Ava..." He tried to explain.
"It’s late," she interrupted. "We should go home." She turned and walked away hurriedly.
Her chest tightened. Though she no longer harbored bitterness toward him, the scars of the past still felt too raw. Gratitude for everything he had done for her wasn’t enough—not yet. She couldn’t think of starting over with him.
Dylan stood frozen for a moment, the distance growing between them settling heavily on his shoulders. His heart ached as he watched her retreat, the faint hope that had briefly flared now flickering like a dying ember.
But he couldn’t let her go like this. Gathering himself, he followed her, his footsteps quiet but steady. He didn’t call her name or try to stop her. Instead, he stayed a few steps behind, his gaze fixed on her back.
The silence of the house was almost deafening as they stepped inside. Dylan stopped at the foot of the stairs, glancing toward Ava as she headed back to her room.
"Goodnight, Ava," he said softly, his voice filled with both longing and resignation.
Ava paused but didn’t turn to look at him. "Goodnight," she replied curtly, masking the storm within.