Chapter Eighty-Two: What She Was Meant to Miss

Kian stood still, his gaze caught somewhere distant—locked in the past where everything fractured.

"You saw her hugging me," he said, voice quiet.

Chloe nodded, arms crossed, holding herself together.

"And you lied."

He let that hit. Let it sit.

Then, cautiously—

"Maybe... maybe you just didn't trust me enough."

Her eyes sharpened instantly.

"Because you gave me the reason not to."

Kian's mouth opened, but the words caught. She didn't let the silence stretch.

"And maybe you didn't trust me enough either."

That landed deeper than she expected.

"If you really believed in us, you would've told me the truth that day. You didn't think I could handle it. You didn't think I'd understand."

He sighed and stepped closer, finally ready.

"Layla wasn't who you thought she was."

Chloe narrowed her gaze, confused.

"She used you, Chloe. Every time she asked about us, it wasn't friendship—it was calculation."

The bitterness in his voice was subtle, but it was there.

"She waited for me outside class. Said she couldn't pretend anymore. That she wanted more than friendship. That being your best friend was just a way to get closer to me."

Chloe's breath hitched.

"I told her no. I told her to stop. And then she hugged me. I pushed her away. But by then… you'd already turned around."

She didn't speak.

He did.

"When you called, I panicked. I told you I was in the computer lab. I didn't want to hurt you or cause drama. I thought I was protecting you from something unnecessary."

He looked at her now, eyes tired.

"But what I really did was give you something worse—a reason to doubt me."

Chloe's voice was soft.

"And I did. For two months. I spiraled in silence, wondering if I imagined it, or if I was just being foolish. I couldn't get the image out of my head."

She glanced away, her tone quieter now.

"And I was too afraid to ask what really happened... because if you lied again, I wouldn't survive it."

The night didn't interrupt.

Neither did the waves.

And for the first time since that day—they finally stood in the full weight of the truth.