Chapter 65: Made a decision

Alan's POV

"Sammy," she whispered. "You set this all up, didn't you?" She, too, connected the dots and blamed him directly.

Sammy walked inside. "I'm not asking you to choose Alan."

Silence filled the room. "I'm asking you to stop pretending."

"You don't understand." Milie snapped.

"No." His voice hardened. "You're the one who doesn't understand."

He pointed toward me. "You fucking love him, not Daxton."

"And he loves you too." He toned down. "You can't just ignore it."

"You think I'm doing this on purpose?"

"No." Sammy answered instantly.

"Then stop." Her voice cracked. "Please stop."

Sammy looked devastated. "I love you, Milie. You are my best friend, my family."

"I can't just sit and watch you suffering."

More tears fell from her eyes.

"I can't watch you keep sacrificing yourself for everyone."

"It's Daxton, Sammy." She yelled louder. "It's our Daxton."

"I know." For the first time, I saw Sammy sad. "I fucking know that, Milie."

The room fell silent for a while. Then Milie turned toward me.

The moment our eyes met, my heart sank. Because I recognized that look.

She had made a decision and would ask me to understand. "Alan, please. I'm sorry. Forget everything I said.

"No," My answer came immediately.

"Alan, please." Her voice trembled. "I'm sorry. Forget everything I said."

"No." The answer came out instantly.

Not because my hopes were being shattered. Not because I couldn't accept rejection.

But because she wasn't just rejecting me. She was rejecting herself, too.

She was asking me to pretend the most beautiful moment of my life had never happened.

As if it meant nothing. As if her tears meant nothing. As if her confession meant nothing.

As if the way she had clung to me minutes ago had never happened.

Fresh tears spilled from her eyes. "Please."

I stepped toward her. "Milie."

She looked away. I gently cupped her face and forced her eyes back to mine.

"Until today, I never knew how you felt about me."

Her lips trembled.

"I stepped back every single time because I thought that's what you wanted." My voice cracked.

"I respected your relationship."

"I respected your choices."

"I respected every boundary you drew." I swallowed hard. "But now?"

I shook my head. "Now I know the truth."

Tears filled her eyes. "Alan—"

"No." For once, I didn't let her interrupt. "I know you love me."

The words hung between us, raw and painful. "And I'm sorry, Mils, but I can't unknow that."

Her entire body shook.

"I definitely can't pretend I don't love you."

A sob escaped her. I brushed away her tears. "You have a heart too, so do I."

"We can’t keep acting like it doesn't matter."

The room fell silent. For one brief second, I thought she might listen, but no.

She stepped back, one step, then another. "Leave me alone."

The hopelessness in her voice hit harder than any rejection. "Both of you."

"Milie—"

"Sammy, leave me alone."

She was looking everywhere except at us. "I know what I'm doing."

"No, you don't," Sammy said quietly.

She flinched. Then anger flashed across her face. "I don't need either of you teaching me how to live my life."

Sammy clenched his jaw. He looked defeated, frustrated, and hurt.

Finally, he nodded. "Fine." Without another word, he turned and walked out.

I stood there for a moment longer, waiting, hoping, praying she would stop me.

But she didn't. Her gaze remained fixed on the floor.

So I left too. Every step felt heavier than the last. "I know she can be mine, and still I can't have her.

"Hey," Sammy called. "You okay?"

I let out a hollow laugh and looked away. "To be honest?”

I dragged a hand through my hair. "I'm fed up."

Sammy lowered his gaze. "Alan, I'm sorry for her. But please don’t give up on her."

I clenched my jaw.

"She can never love Daxton the way she loves you. One day she'll realize that."

I laughed bitterly. "One day?" I turned toward him.

"When exactly is that one day, Sammy?"

He stayed silent.

"I thought today was that day."

My chest hurt… too much. "She finally admitted it. She finally stopped hiding. And then within minutes she destroyed everything."

"Alan—"

"No." I shook my head. "That girl is not even thinking about herself." My voice cracked.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The evening air felt suffocating.

Sammy frowned. I tried to talk to her, but she—"

"No… She has to understand, and so does Daxton." I paced away and then walked back.

"His deep-seated love is his problem, not Milie's."

"If she doesn't love him the way he loves her, she has every right to walk away."

I could see a change in Sammy's expression as I mentioned Daxton.

"I'm sorry, man." I looked toward the road. "I just can't think straight right now."

Sammy nodded. "I understand. Take your time."

I got into my car and drove away without glancing at him once. No destination. Not direction. Just empty roads and too many thoughts.

It was my birthday. A few hours ago, I thought it was the best day of my life.

I got the girl I loved. I heard the words I'd been waiting for months to hear.

And somehow it became the most painful day too.

The moment I was far enough from everyone, I slammed my palm against the steering wheel. "Damn it, Mils!"

My voice echoed inside the car. I hit the wheel again.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?" The frustration I'd been holding in finally broke loose.

"I love you. You love me, too and you are willing to throw it away."

I laughed bitterly. "For what? For guilt? For fear of hurting Daxton."

I pulled over on the side of the road, my chest rising and falling heavily.

For several seconds, I just stared through the windshield, and the engine burned idly.

"If she don't want to fight for herself, for us…. Fine. Let it be. I would too stop fighting."

I grabbed my phone, my fingers already scrolling through the contacts. The call connected on the first ring.

"Hello?" I closed my eyes. "I'm coming."

There was a brief pause on the other end. Then a warm laugh.

"We'll be waiting."

I ended the call, started the engine, and drove without a second thought.