Ari stepped out of the car, her emotions barely held in check. She could feel the weight of the day pressing down on her, threatening to break her resolve. Her assistant gave her a concerned look, but Ari waved her off, assuring her that she was fine. As soon as she entered the house and reached her room, she shut the door behind her and let out a shaky breath. The moment the door clicked shut, the walls she had built around herself came crumbling down.
Ari collapsed onto the floor, the emotions she had bottled up all day spilling over. She cried—deep, heart-wrenching sobs that echoed in the silence of the room. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of Leo’s sudden apology, the pain of their past, and the rawness of her feelings flooded her mind. She hugged herself tightly, trying to soothe the ache in her chest.
“Why?” she whispered between sobs. “Why wasn’t I as important as his career? Why wasn’t I enough?”