---- Kyle trailed me at a distance. "Who's the handsome guy following you?" Linda asked. I glanced at my phone. "No idea." At the airport, I was stopped at the gate. There was a problem with my ticket, so I couldn't board. I wasn't surprised. Kyle would never let me go so easily. I told Linda and the others to go ahead and that I'd stay behind to resolve the issue. As I waited with my suitcase, Kyle showed up. The early spring wind was biting cold. He stood tall in a charcoal overcoat, his presence stark against the crowd. He looked at me like a lost soul. I curled a finger, beckoning to him. His face lit up like a child, and he hurried over. " Grace." ---- "You messed with my flight, didn't you?" "I did," he admitted without shame. "I couldn't let you leave again." I stared at him, my voice level as I said, "Do you know why I left in the first place? Because you and Jones no longer have anything to do with me. To me, the two of you don't even qualify as strangers anymore." Panic crept into Kyle's eyes. "I know I hurt you. I want to make things right. Please, Grace. Just one more chance?" His voice trembled; there was none of the arrogance he used to carry. I looked him in the eye. "It wasn't Rose's fault. Not entirely. You assumed I'd always stay because I made you my whole world. But thankfully, you two cut deep enough to teach me that love shouldn't cost me my soul. You broke me. Over and over. Until there was nothing left to break." ---- Kyle turned pale. His eyes turned red. "Grace..." "Don't call me that. It makes my skin crawl." He looked down, unable to meet my gaze. "Jones is on his way. Please, just let him see you one last time." "] just want to leave. And never see either of you again." Back at the hotel, Jones arrived before I could even settle in. He held a thick folder in trembling hands. His eyes turned red the moment he saw me. "Sis... I've taken everything I gave to Rose back. All of it. Just sign these, and it's yours again." His voice cracked. His fingers shook as he held out the papers. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness... but please, just give me one chance to make this right. " ---- However, I had made peace. No matter how he begged, I wasn't going back. It had cost me everything-my heart, my sanity. It nearly killed me. I looked at them both. "I won't forgive you. But I won't take revenge either. Kyle, Jones, this is the last time I'll say this. I don't want your compensation. I don't need it. Stay out of my life." Jones opened his mouth, but said nothing. He knew me too well. If I'd screamed at him, cursed him, hit him even, he might've believed there was still a chance. However, I was calm and detached. I didn't raise my voice or blame anyone. That was how he knew that I meant every word and that I was never coming back.