Chapter 21 Coming home should've felt like peace. After the days Scott and I spent on that quiet island-wrapped in love, in silence, in healing-1 expected to return to my boutique with the same calm that lingered in the sea breeze. The city felt louder, sharper, but I was ready. I had my husband's hand in mine, a new chapter waiting behind the glass doors of my dream, and I told myself nothing could ruin this now. Until I saw him. Troy. Sitting outside my shop. His back rested against the brick wall. Hair unkempt. Shirt wrinkled. A duffel bag beside him, half-unzipped, revealing crumpled clothes. It looked like he had been living there. Scott stiffened immediately. His hand tightened on mine. Troy stood up the second he saw us, desperation flashing in his eyes. "Taylor-" froze. My feet wouldn't move. He started walking toward me, hands raised like he was approaching something sacred. 'Please. Please, just hear me out. One minute. Just give me one minute." But I said nothing. I turned to unlock the boutique door. 'I know I ruined everything," he said, his voice cracking. "But I'm not with Vanessa anymore. divorced her. She lied-about everything. I should've believed you. I should've chosen you. I still choose you." Scott stepped between us, blocking his path. "She's married," he said coldly. "Walk away." But Troy's gaze stayed on me. "Taylor, I haven't slept. I've been outside your shop every night jus hoping to see you. I swear to God, I'm not leaving until you talk to me." Still, I said nothing. I simply turned and kissed Scott. Softly. Slowly. Right in front of him. When I pulled away, Scott was still glaring at Troy-but there was something softer in his eyes when he looked at me. Troy, however, snapped. 'You don't love him!" he yelled, his voice breaking. "You're just trying to forget me!" Scott turned. "Don't raise your voice at her." Troy lunged. It was fast-too fast. The next thing I knew, fists were flying. Scott shoved him hard against the wall. Troy punched back, landing a hit to Scott's jaw. They were both grunting, cursing, losing control. 'Stop it!" I cried out. "Both of you!" But they didn't listen. They were tangled in fists and fury, years of guilt and regret exploding in public. A small crowd had started to gather on the sidewalk, some pulling out phones, others whispering in shock.. "Enough!" a voice barked behind us. I turned to see Travis and Van running over, eyes wide, pushing through the onlookers. "Are you both insane?" Travis yelled, grabbing Troy by the collar and pulling him back. Var shoved Scott to the side, holding him by the arm. Scott wiped the blood from his lip, chest heaving. "He started it." "I just wanted to talk to her!" Troy shouted, twisting in Travis's grip. "She won't even look at me!" "Because I don't want to!" I snapped. Silence. All eyes were on me now. I stood on the steps of my boutique, trembling-not from fear but from rage. "You don't get to beg me now, Troy," I said. "You don't get to camp outside my shop like you ow it. You don't get to cry and tell me you love me when you already destroyed me." "I didn't mean to-" "But you did," I cut him off. "You let her destroy me. You made me feel like I was replaceable Like I was never enough." His mouth opened. No words came out. "Go back to Vanessa," I said, voice sharp as glass. "She's the one you married. She's the one yo believed. So stay with her. That's your choice." He shook his head frantically. "No, she lied. I know that now-" "I don't care," I said, stepping down from the stoop. "I've moved on. I'm not your second choice I'm not your apology." I turned to Scott and took his hand again.,And then I faced Troy one last time. "From now on… forget I exist." Troy's knees buckled slightly. His face contorted in anguish, his eyes red and glassy, lips partec like he wanted to scream-but nothing came out. That's when I heard it. "Taylor, wait…" Travis stepped forward, brows furrowed. His voice wasn't angry-just tired, mayb even… ashamed. Van followed quietly, eyes softer now, hands wringing nervously. "We-we need to talk. Please." I turned slowly toward them. "What for?" Van looked away. Travis swallowed hard. "Because we… we got it all wrong." I scoffed. "Now you realize that?" Silence. "All those years," I said, my voice rising, the weight of it all crawling up my throat. "You always chose her. When we were kids, when she blamed me, when she lied, you believed her every time. You grounded me for things I didn't do. You made me apologize just to keep the peace." Van opened her mouth, but I shook my head. "Don't. You both let her poison everyone against me. Even when Mom and Dad were still alive, you made me feel like I had to earn your love. And no matter what I did-it was never enough." Their faces fell. Tears blurred my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not now. Not in front of them. "You want to make it up to me?" I said, voice trembling but steady. "Then leave me alone." "Taylor…" Travis tried again, stepping forward. I stepped back. "I'm happy now. With Scott. I built something for myself after all the pieces you left me in. So don't ruin that." I gripped Scott's hand tighter. "Let me have this one thing. Just this once." And then, with one final breath, I said it: "Good bye, brothers."