Chapter 40: Walking Away

Ella’s POV

I stumbled back into the bedroom, my head spinning, my chest heavy. The room felt colder than before, like the warmth had left with him. I grabbed the small bag from the corner and started throwing my clothes inside. My hands shook so badly I could barely fold them.

The silence pressed against me. Every time I tried to breathe, the memory of Noah’s face came back—hurt, confused, and still gentle. I had pushed him away, the one person who had ever stood ...